Page 74 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
The goal horn blared, and Charlotte stumbled back away from the net on shaky legs. Pain continued to snake up her skin, but she barely felt it as her team poured off the bench to engulf her in a full-team hug.
"Way to go, kid." Roman shook her shoulder.
Damien lifted his cage and grinned. Each member of their team shouted with joy as if they'd just won the Stanley Cup. Maybe they had. For their hockey careers, this was Everest.
Her eyes locked with Jesse's as he stood at the back of the group, waiting to congratulate her. He held his helmet in one hand, leaving his sweaty hair sticking up in all directions.
That moment was one she'd never forget. For the first time in her life, she was part of something. They accepted her, rooted for her.
It was powerful. It was also Jesse's fault. He brought her out of her safe world into one where she stood at the top of her mountain wondering when she'd fall down. But maybe falling wasn't such a bad thing if there was something waiting at the bottom.
The team continued to celebrate as they made their way past her to the tunnel. And there he stood in front of her. The boy who never gave up on her, the one who held an entire hockey game hostage just so she could play.
He never questioned her ability or her passion.
He only ever wanted her to experience this, and now she had. She jumped from the top of her mountain, enjoying the fall, knowing she could fall for the rest of her life.
The crowd in the stands hadn't dissipated yet. She knew her dad probably still stood near the bench.
But all she saw was Jesse Carrigan. Her friend. Her captain. Her...
"I'm proud of you, Charlie." He gave her the half-smile thing she loved so much.
Ripping off her helmet, she skated forward. "This time, Jesse, I get to be the one that kisses you." Her fingers curled in his jersey, and she pulled him forward, pressing her lips to his and taking control of whatever it was between them. Her parents’ rules no longer mattered. She no longer cared if he was out of her league.
When she kissed him, all she wanted was more. More time. More kisses. More of these feelings swirling inside her, pushing away all exhaustion and pain.
A moan escaped Jesse's throat, and his arms wound around her back. His helmet hit the ice with a thud and hers followed soon after. She was only vaguely aware of the crowd roaring their approval, but she no longer needed anyone else's approval.
She only needed her own.
And Charlotte Morrison fully approved of every one of her actions.
21
Jesse
Holding hands with hockey gloves on was not an easy feat. Jesse led Charlotte to the tunnel, away from the prying eyes of the crowd. Her dad went ahead of them, not even glancing their way.
Charlotte laughed as Jesse pushed her against the wall, pressing a kiss to each of her cheeks before claiming her lips. He didn't think he'd ever tire of kissing his newest teammate.
Charlotte wasn't only one thing, only one person. And he didn't only mean she was both a figure skater and a hockey player. She could be both hot and cold, which suited her in both sports. The way she'd dropped down in front of that shot only cemented his feelings for her.
"Charlie," he whispered against her lips. "Promise me you won't say we have to stop again."
"I promise." Her laugh vibrated against his lips. "You're the forbidden fruit, Jesse. Now I've had my bite, and I can't go back."
"You're cheesy."
She smiled, and he couldn't help kissing it, wanting to experience every bit of her happiness with her.
"How does it feel to finally win a game?"
He pressed his forehead against hers. "Still processing. How does it feel to be a hockey player?"
"I wouldn't believe it if I didn't have the shaky legs to prove it."
Of course, he was an idiot. "Are you in pain?" He'd blocked many shots before, and it never got easier.
