Page 46 of Ice Contact

“Hayes,” I say with a super groggy smile, trying to wake myself up. “I missed you too.” I turn my head to kiss him, pleased when his lips effortlessly find mine. “What time is it?”

“1:45. Go back to sleep, siren. I’m exhausted.” He kisses me again. “I can’t believe I came home to you in my bed. I missed you; I just need to hold you.”

“Me too. I’m sorry you guys lost. Does snuggling help you get over a loss?”

“Olivia, I’ve been dealing with being outplayed for most of my life. Losses suck, but they happen. Losing is just part of the game.” He drops his forehead to my shoulder, the warmth of his breath spreading goosebumps across my skin. “I know your mind is wheeling with thoughts of me being upset and standoffish, but that’s not me,” Hayes says as I start to wake a little more, his voice thrumming through me. “And whether or not it helps me get over a loss is yet to be determined,” he says as he cozies up closer. “But there is nothing I would rather be doing than snuggling with you.”

“Are you sure?” I tease, wiggling into him. “Because, from what I’m feeling, you’d like to do more than snuggle.”

He lets out a soft laugh. “I really want to let you get some rest, but seeing you in my bed, my name across your back, has me fucking hard as a rock.”

“Well, we can’t have you trying to get a good night’s sleep like that, now, can we.” I turn over to face him as I grasp his length. He moans as a warmth settles deep within me. “Fun fact. I told my boss I needed to work from home tomorrow. He thinks I need to let a repair man in my house, so I can sleep in and have a lazy morning with you.”

“Olivia Brooks, you sneaky liar.” He drops his head into the crook of my neck, his lips lifting into a smile against my skin. “I love your ploy to spend more time with me.”

I roll over to face him. “Oh, you love it, do you?”

Hayes gazes at me quietly, the burning heat in his eyes melting me to my core. He cups my cheek with his hand, my breath catching at the look on his face. “Olivia, I love you.”

My heart is beating in my throat, my pulse racing so fast I can’t breathe. “You…you…” I can’t form the words. “You love me?” I blink, trying to convince myself this is real. “Already?”

His brows draw together, a tentative smile on his face. “I do. I don’t know how this happened so fast,” he admits as I leaninto his hand. “But I know I don’t want to spend another minute of my life without telling you how I feel. After Walt’s, when I thought I may never see you again, was the longest I ever want to be without you.”

My pulse races, and tears of joy flood my eyes at his words.

This man is everything.

“I almost said it when you left for your trip. I was so worried it would freak you out and you’d leave.”

“I know,” he says as he flashes that damn gorgeous smile at me. “I haven’t taken enough hits to be that dense, and it didn’t scare me one bit. Honestly, I wish you had said it so I could say it back. And now, I don’t ever want to not say it.” His thumb traces my cheek, more goosebumps erupting across my body. “I am madly in love with you.”

I pause, cherishing how vulnerable he is. I take in a deep breath, filling my lungs with newfound confidence. I don’t have to hold back my feelings anymore. “I love you too.”

He presses his lips to mine with a fierce passion, melting all of my worries about him being on the road, trusting his actions, and my paranoia of not being enough. As he claims me, I’m reminded of the good and selfless man he is. This all seems fast, but it also feels right. I don’t know what I’ve done in my life to deserve this man, but the one thing I know is that I’m never letting go.

32

hayes

Ilove sleeping in my own bed. I paid premium for this mattress, and it’s been worth every penny. I need to sleep well, without any extra stress on my back, and hotel beds can be killer. Waking up feeling like I slept on a big, fluffy cloud always makes me feel glad to be home. Especially when I wake up with my siren curled into me. Her auburn hair is splayed across my white pillowcase and is more beautiful than the view of the sunrise coming up over the lake.

I hop out of bed, throwing on a pair of boxer briefs, to make us some coffee and breakfast. Thankfully, I have today off. No game. No practice. I need to fuel up and get in a quick run, but that’s it.

“How are you up earlier than me?” Olivia groggily mumbles rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her adorable self walking into my kitchen as I’m filling the water in the coffee maker.

“I’ve always been an early riser.”

“Oh, I almost forgot! I made you something,” she says, springing to the kitchen island grabbing a pie plate. “I found a market that had some decent peaches this late in the season, so I made you a pie. It’s from scratch. Even the crust.”

My stomach groans, lusting at the sight of my absolute favorite dessert.She made me a pie.“Oh my God. We are fucking eating this for breakfast.”

“You want to eat it for breakfast?”

“Why the hell not? First of all, you know I have zero problem eating dessert before a meal. Second, you can’t just wave a pie in my face and expect me to not eat it immediately. And third, it’s fruit. And pie crust is basically bread. It’s the same as eating toast, part of a healthy, well-balanced meal.”

Her face lights up like a Christmas tree, her eyes beaming with excitement. “I like the way you think Larsy. Toast and fruit it is. I’m still sad you got up before me though. You got in so late last night, I thought for sure you’d sleep in. I was going to make you coffee, but you beat me to it,” she says with a tired pout.

“Well, you’ll have to get up earlier to beat me to the coffee,” I say as I pull her close and kiss her. “Would you like to know my secret?”

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