Page 49 of Slash & Burn

She bobbed her head back and forth, smirking playfully. “No. I don’t agree.”

The glint in her eyes had my dick twitching. “What are you saying?”

She slid her hands up my body, skimming the spot on my neck where my pulse was hammering, as she said, “I’m saying we’re both adults and we have an opportunity this summer to help each other.” Her eyes dropped to my chest as her bravado faltered. “You keep pushing me to be braver. And even though I think my life is perfectly fine the way it is, I can admit that it’s been a little fun to test my limits.”

When she found my eyes again there was a hope in them that filled me like a balloon. It surged through me, lifting me up. I’d do damn near anything to keep that light in her eyes.

“And I could keep helping you with your training.” It sounded like a question, like she doubted what she offered me in this arrangement.

“As if that’s all you do,” I huffed, my hands sweeping down her arms, the urge to touch her overpowering me just like it always did.

“I’m just saying. We could make the most of this summer. No expectations beyond it.”

A twinge of apprehension needled me. “You’re sure you want this? Knowing it’s not going to last.”

Jill pulled her shoulders back, tipping her chin up as she exhaled. “Yeah. I do. I’m not the same person I was when Adam left me. And I don’t want to be. This thing between us . . .”

She ticked her finger back and forth, my eyes tracking the slender digit like she was deciding my fate. Because this was her decision. I knew I was getting the better end of this deal, and I’d do whatever I could to give something back to her. But this was her choice.

“It’s a chance for me to have a good time without being destroyed when it ends,” she went on, pausing to shrug as the corner of her mouth tilted up. “I really want to learn how to enjoy something but not lose myself in it, you know?”

There was such sweetness in her eyes. I’d have said yes to anything she asked me looking like that. “I think so.”

I’d never gotten that close to someone else, so I was speculating. Hockey had been my only focus for as long as I could remember. “You’re sure? You can change your mind.”

When she laughed, her head tilted back, giving me all too easy access to the soft skin of her throat. I felt the last strands of my hesitation snap and my lips landed on her pulse point as I wrapped her in my arms.

“Yes,” she huffed out, her voice breathy as she combed her fingers through my hair. “I’m sure.”

“Then it’s a deal, Jilly-fish.” I kissed down to her collar bone before pulling back to look her in the eye. “You’re mine for the summer.”

Her eyes twinkled and she nodded at me before freezing. “And my brother?”

I sighed, brushing my lips across hers because not touching her wasn’t an option now that I knew she was okay and we were on the same page. “I’ll talk to him.”

Her grin was lopsided—half playful, half doubtful. “I’m not sure talking is going to get you very far. But have fun trying.”

She was probably right. Joey wasn’t much of a ‘gray area’ kind of guy. But this was what Jill wanted. And, quite frankly, it was what Ineeded. Holding her in my arms I felt the first hint of peace I’d gotten all week. Whatever she was doing to me, it was working. So yeah, I was willing to take Joey on so I could keep this girl in my arms.

My girl.If only for the summer.

CHAPTER 20

GRADY

Even though it was none of Joey’s business what happened between me and Jill, I’d let her go the other night with only a kiss. Or, a solid make-out really, with a few nipple grazes—but nothing like I’d wanted to do.

I’d walked her back to her car and pinned her against it so she could feel how fucking hard she made me without even trying. She’d laughed, as if she still found it impossible to believe the effect she had on me, and the flirty sound of it was still in my head the next day when I pulled into the ice rink.

Judging by the number of cars it was a packed house inside. That could be a good thing, working in my favor to keep Joey in check when I told him the news. Or, I’d just have an even bigger audience for when I got laid out. Because I wasn’t going to hit him back. I understood where he was coming from. I got how this looked from the outside. So, I’d let him take his hits. But I wasn’t going to stop seeing Jill.

I smiled, unclipping my seatbelt with a little laugh. It felt good just to think about this thing with her. Whatever it was, or whatever we called it. I was almost giddy, like being a kid set free for the summer. The possibilities were endless, and damn, did I have some ideas. It was going to be fun helping her, ahem,test her limits—as she’d said. I couldn’t wait to get started.

But first I had to do this.

With my bag slung over my shoulder I headed inside, spotting Joey’s pickup as I went. He was already on the ice by the time I got to the locker room, so I hustled, hoping to get this conversation over with before the game started. I didn’t need to be already exhausted when he gave me my due.

The ice was fairly empty as a kid’s camp ended and parents collected their own at the far end of the rink. I kept my head down, a few of the guys tripping over their own feet as they figured out who I was. Joey was cruising past the opening in the boards when he spotted me. He stayed on his line, finished his lap and came to a slow stop where I stood stretching.

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