Page 17 of Ice Cold Rival

She didn’t need me adding drama to the situation by getting my cock involved. Kenzie was the definition of a good girl, and no matter how much fun I showed her over the next few months, she’d still probably want the husband and babies and picket fence in the end. Hell, she deserved a stable, normal life.

But maybe one she could live on her terms—without considering the assholes around her who didn’t give a shit what she wanted.

I stroked her hair as she relaxed and struggled to find the right words. “It’s hard to pick the right path between the people you care about and yourself. My Gram wants me to stop playing hockey so I can fulfill my destiny as one of her underlings at our family business. She plans for me to take over one day, but I couldn’t give less of a shit about the company. It’s only going to get harder when I graduate and have to work my way up in the pros. My mom says to follow my own path no matter the consequences, my dad says to give in and live the easy life, and honestly, I don’t want to end up like either of them.”

My soul-baring was met with a quiet snore, and I huffed out a laugh. What the hell was I doing? I didn’t talk about my family with people. At least she’d fallen asleep before I made a fool of myself.

Kenzie needed some breathing room, and I was happy to provide it. She didn’t sign up to deal with my whining about all the pressures of being a poor little rich kid.

My feet hung off the edge of the mattress, and I was losing feeling in my toes. I’d be sore as hell for conditioning tomorrow, but it wouldn’t be the first time.

A thump and a slurred apology came from the other side of her door, and Kenzie snorted partly awake. Thank god. She sat up, blinking slowly, and I used the opportunity to urge her under her covers.

Instead of heading home as I usually did, I crawled in next to her. Unlike the other women I’d been spending time with, Kenzie was under no illusions about our future. She didn’t know about my money or care about my hockey skills. For once, I let myself relax with the warmth of a woman’s body next to me.

Kenzie sighed and wiggled closer. I assumed she’d fallen back asleep, but she surprised me again by addressing our previous night together.

“You’re not going to ask why I ran?” she whispered into the darkness.

I chuckled and pulled her back against me, careful to keep my hard-on to myself. “Not tonight. Go to sleep, Kenzie.”

7

Iexpected to wake up alone. The heavy arm draped over my waist told me I was wrong.

Reece was curled around me, my back pressed against his chest. We were both fully clothed, but the facts didn’t make a difference to my imagination. My hair moved slightly with his breath, and not a single thought in my head was appropriate for a fake relationship.

Sunlight streamed through my window in a cheerful reminder that summer wasn’t far behind us—and that I really needed to clean my room. Clothes were draped over every available surface, books scattered in piles anywhere they’d fit, and the infamous nacho plate needed to be returned to the kitchen. Last night had been dark enough not to worry about it, but I had a guy wrapped around me who had every right to decide I was a slob.

In my defense, I hadn’t woken up with a guy in a long time. My history with sleepovers was few and far between. Toby had stayed over occasionally, but we’d always maintained separate places. He insisted he needed space to decompress, and I was happy to not share. I never questioned his distance.

Looking back, I could see why everyone thought I was a pushover.

Not anymore. Reece was no Toby. Before I fell asleep, I’d wondered if he’d be a bed hog or one of those guys who absolutely couldn’t be touched while they slept. Ask me how I knew about that one.

No worries there. Reece was a cuddler.

Honestly, I wasn’t surprised. In the short time I’d known him, he’d probably touched me more than Toby had in the last three years. Bonus, he smelled good. I wanted to bury my nose in his chest and breathe in the faint spicy scent.

So I tried to roll over and do just that.

Reece tensed before I could move very far, and I realized two things. He wasn’t asleep. And I wasn’t the only one affected by our closeness. His thumb dipped under my shirt and stroked down my stomach.

A line of heat pulled taut, and my inner muscles clenched. Probably my outer muscles too. I wasn’t paying much attention to what my body was doing when his was so close behind me. I might have pushed into his fingers, I might have encouraged him to keep moving until he reached the ache between my legs. I might have thrown all caution out the window for another bout with him, but a pounding on my door pulled me out of my lovely fantasy. Reece’s arms tightened then relaxed.

“Better get that,” he murmured into my ear.

Shivers raced down my back, and I seriously considered pushing the boundaries. If I closed the inch between us, maybe gave a little wiggle against the impressive erection I could feel through my sweats, he’d probably call off the whole relationship and I’d be back where I started.

Probably worse. Without Reece “dating” me, I’d simply be another of his conquests as far as Amanda—and everyone else—was concerned. Not exactly the screw you message I wanted to send.

Instead of snuggling closer, I flipped the covers back at the next hard knock. A small part of me hoped it was Kiki or one of my other sisters with a peace offering. At my old school, we’d take turns making coffee.

Reece’s kindness must have addled my brain because none of the girls here brought each other coffee. The whole vibe was different. More like prey animals circling each other waiting for a weakness.

I stretched and added the wiggle I’d been too smart—or afraid—to do lying next to him. A low chuckle from the bed almost had me diving right back under the blankets.

“Careful, little thief, or whoever is at the door is going to get a show,” Reece rumbled.

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