Page 77 of Off the Ice

My chest tightened. “Me too.”

He hummed, brushing a kiss to my cheek, then my jaw. His mouth traveled lower, dragging a slow, heated path down my neck. “You’re so soft in the mornings.”

I exhaled, tilting my head to give him better access. “And you’re very handsy.”

His lips curved against my skin. “I have a fiancée. Pretty sure that means I can touch you whenever I want.”

I laughed softly. “Is that how it works?”

“Absolutely.” He lifted his head, eyes darkening as he took me in—hair tousled, lips swollen from sleep, skin warm beneath the sheets. His fingers slid up my thigh, his touch featherlight. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Ava.”

My breath caught as he shifted, his weight settling more fully against me. I curled my fingers around the nape of his neck, pulling him down into a slow, deep kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered against my mouth.

I smiled, my nails scraping lightly against his scalp. “I love you.”

Logan kissed me again, slower this time, savoring every brush of his lips against mine. His hands roamed my body, mapping every dip and curve, like he was trying to memorize me all over again.

We murmured it between kisses, between gasps, between the slow, desperate way he moved inside me. I whispered it into his ear as he held me close, his lips pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses to my neck.

He growled it against my skin as I clung to him, my fingers digging into his back.

There was no rush. No urgency. Just us, wrapped up in each other, savoring the moment.

After, we stayed tangled in the sheets, our legs intertwined, our breaths still slightly uneven. Logan’s fingers traced lazy patterns over my hip, the weight of his arm keeping me anchored to him.

I ran a hand through his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp. “You’re quiet.”

He hummed, his eyes still closed. “Just happy.”

I smiled, brushing my lips against his temple. “Me too.”

His arm tightened around me. “We could stay here all day, you know. Lock the door. Ignore the world.”

I let out a soft laugh. “Tempting, but I think the world might notice if the golden boy of the NHL disappears.”

Logan groaned, burying his face against my neck. “Don’t remind me.”

I grinned, wrapping my arms around him, holding him close. “At least we have right now.”

Eventually, he murmured, “Shower?”

I hummed in agreement, stretching beneath him before slipping out of bed.

The hot water felt heavenly as it cascaded over my body, steam curling around us in the enclosed space. Logan stood behind me, his strong hands smoothing shampoo through my hair, massaging my scalp with slow, deliberate movements.

“You’re gonna make me fall asleep standing up,” I mumbled, eyes closed as I leaned into his touch.

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “Not my fault if I’m good with my hands.”

I smiled, letting the warmth of the water and the gentle slide of his fingers lull me into relaxation. He rinsed my hair, then reached for the soap, lathering up his hands before smoothing them over my shoulders, my back, lower—

His touch changed. Became heavier. Needier.

His fingers traced the curve of my waist, drifting down to my hips, gripping them just enough that I felt the shift in his energy. I didn’t have to turn around to know he was hard. His body pressed against mine, heat radiating between us despite the steam.

I tilted my head slightly, my wet hair sticking to my back as I caught the dark heat in his eyes.

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