Page 54 of Ice Block

“Ugh…eight?Why are you awake so early?” she mumbles into her pillow, and I can’t help the smile that crawls up my face.

“Can’t shake the hockey routine.”

She rolls over to face me as a sleepy smile spreads across her face. “You’re still here.”

The unspoken words linger between us.I left her.My heart sinks at the poor decision I made that night. The continued agony of choosing to avoid her for months. To never reach out to her, even just to pay for the dress I ripped to shreds. But last night was amazing. And I don’t want to get into my fears today. I just want to be withher.

“Where else would I be, Magdalina?”

As the words leave my mouth, she leans up to gently press her lips to mine. My chest doesn’t feel tight this morning. Instead, something flutters inside it.What would it be like to wake up to her kisses every morning?

“Can I ask you another question, Wolfie? Wait…two questions actually.”

I chuckle at her request. “Why do I feel like we keep interrogating one another? We’ve discussed I am not an actual spy, yes?”

“I’m still not convinced,” she says with a wink. “But…okay, my first question. Why didn’t you pack any condoms this week?”

I run my hand over my face as she giggles next to me. “I didn’t think I would need them.”

She tilts her head, her brows narrowing. “Why not?”

“Because I thought you hated me. I figured I’d messed things up too much.”

“Well…I didkindahate you,” she says, playfully running asingle finger down my chest, stopping to play with the metal bar she’s enamored with.She has no idea I got it because of her.

“I’m aware.”

“Wait, you didn’t think you’d get some hot piece of action while you were here? You’re kind of a catch, Vladi.”

“No.” I say a little sharper than intended. The insinuation of me being with anyone but her makes my stomach clench. “No one outside of this room has my interest.”

And no one ever will.

Her eyes widen, bright as the sun peeking out over the horizon, her chest rising and falling.

“What’s your second question?”

She blinks fast, caught between shock and curiosity. “Umm…yeah. Second question. Why did you bring my panties with you on this trip?”

I shake my head as she laughs once again, and I can’t help but crack a smile at the way she knows she’s getting to me. I could lie. I could tell her it was just an impulse grab when I was packing. But the way she’s looking at me, I can’t tell her anything but the truth.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes, refusing to be embarrassed about getting caught, then open them to look directly into hers. “I take them everywhere.”

Her jaw drops open and suddenly my thoughts focus on her lips wrapped around the morning erection I have.Maybe I can distract her from this question with something we’ll both enjoy more.But she’s too quick and finally musters out, “Everywhere?What do you mean everywhere?”

“I don’t ever travel without them.”

“Wait…wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me my panties are like those cheesy American Express commercials? You never leave home without them? But you said you didn’t have a panty fetish.”

I close my eyes and shake my head, already knowing where this is headed. “I don’t.”

Her mouth opens and closes a few times as she scrunches her face. “Okay, explain this to me like I’m five. Why do you take my panties with you everywhere you go?”

I look up to the ceiling, wishing it were the ice, something cold and familiar. My hand drags over the stubble on my chin. I’m on my own with this one. “After that night, I took them home. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. It was honestly the best sex I’ve ever had.”

She looks at me, fighting back a smile with fully blushed cheeks. “Agreed.”

“I was headed out of town for a two-game road trip the next day, and I threw them in my bag on a whim. And…we won the first game. Then we won the next game.”

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