Page 72 of Fear of Falling

Taking a deep breath, I lowered my hockey stick to the ice. Trying to ignore Wyatt’s gaze, I drew back the stick before swinging it forward, almost like swinging a golf club. The stick hit the puck, sending it hurtling down the ice. It went further than I thought it would, and when it came to a stop, I threw my hands up.

“Hell yeah!” I looked at Wyatt, feeling like I’d won the lottery. “Did you see that?”

“You’re a natural,” Wyatt grinned back. “Now do it again.”

I hit puck after puck, each one going a little bit further than the last. Wyatt’s encouraging smile made my insides turn to goo. Once I hit all the pucks, I stood there grinning, feeling extremely proud of myself.

“I think I could make the team.”

“Oh yeah?” Wyatt skated around me, casually controlling a puck with his stick like he wasn’t even aware he was doing it.

“I bet once Coach Barnum sees my skills, he’d put me in.” I pushed off the ice, skating towards him.

“I bet he would. What position would you play?”

“Obviously Center.”

“Coming for my job, huh?”

“Of course. I’ll be the new Wyatt Boone.” I skated around him, wobbling only a little.

“I think you’re a little too short to be me, though.”

“Not all of us can be giants,” I grinned.

“Hmm.” Wyatt skated towards me, a strange look on his face. As he drew nearer, I skated back a little, dropping the hockey stick on the ice. Wyatt’s expression made my skin break outin goosebumps as his gaze swept over me, as though he was devouring me with his eyes.

“What’s the look for?”

He didn’t answer me. The back of my skate got tangled with my other skate, but I didn’t need to worry as Wyatt reached out and grabbed me by my waist. As he lifted me into the air, I squealed—it wasn’t lost on me that he easily lifted me in the air like I weighed nothing. He carried me across the ice until I felt the board against the back of my legs, and my breath caught in my throat.

“That’s better,” he murmured, as he sat me on the edge of the boards. His hands gently spread my legs open as he positioned himself between them, now almost eye level.

“Now you can see what it's like at my height,” he said, but all I could do was stare at him. I felt cocooned by him, by his strong body, and by the smell of his cologne that invaded my senses.

Tentatively, I lifted my hands and pressed them against his chest. I could feel his heart pounding beneath my hands, the pace matching my own. I’d never felt my heart race the way it did when I’m near Wyatt.

If I felt cold before, I didn’t now. Wyatt’s hands on my thighs burned through my jeans making me wish I was wearing a skirt instead.

“You looked really good out there on the ice.” Wyatt’s voice was soft as his thumbs stroked my thighs.

“I had a good teacher.”

“Clearly, I did a good job,” he murmured.

“And so humble,” I giggled.

“I think a kiss would humble me,” he said, jokingly, but the way he looked at me was anything but.

“Hm…I’m not sure one kiss would work though.” I played along with his game, hands moving up a little higher on his chest.

“Guess I’ll need multiple kisses just to be sure.” His voice took on a serious tone as his eyes sparkled.

“To be safe,” I nodded along. Leaning forward, I angled my head up just a few inches. Wyatt barely had to dip his head as our lips met. Just as I was about to sink into the kiss a voice shouted from the other side of the rink.

“And what are you doing on my ice?”

The two of us jerked apart, and I fell against Wyatt’s chest before quickly righting myself. My cheeks flamed at the fact we were caught kissing against the boards. I buried my face in Wyatt’s chest as I tried to stifle a laugh. My ability to laugh at the most in-opportune times was legendary.

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