Page 33 of Keeper
“He was my favorite goalie when I was a kid.”
“Let me guess—a hockey goalie?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
She giggled. “I think you’re the first Canadian I’ve ever known. Is it true that you’re all crazy about hockey?”
“About as crazy as you Americans are for football,” I said.
“I told you I don’t care for football, remember?”
“Yeah, well, I’m starting to think you’re a little different,” I said.
“Different how?” she asked.
“Nevermind.” I gestured across the room. “Can I show you the view?”
“Sure,” she said, and she returned my dog to his throne.
I took her by the hand and led her to the wall of windows. I sidled closely behind her and we stared out at the city below.
She gasped beneath her breath. “Oh, wow.”
“It’s a nice view, isn’t it?”
The air between us grew charged, the hairs on my arm standing erect.
“It’s breathtaking,” she whispered.
I nestled closer—close enough her intoxicating scent filled my senses. Her hair smelled of sweet strawberries. Each breath drove me wild and made me want her more. I’dpromisedI’d be on my best behavior, but I was fighting a losing battle. A magnetic attraction pulled at my core. Something inside me wasdyingto get closer to her.
“Not as breathtaking as you,” I said, my chest grazing her backside.
“Cornball.” She laughed, refusing to take her gaze off the skyline.
“I mean it.” I leaned in and nipped at the nape of her neck.I can’t stop myself.
She tried to pretend that I wasn’t sucking at the delicate skin of her neck, but with each kiss, I felt her resistance melting away. Quiet sighs of pleasure began to escape her.
“Tanner …” She spoke my name in a whisper—but as a protest, or an encouragement? I couldn’t tell.
“Yeah?” I asked, spanning her waist with my big hands.
“Let’s not get carried away, okay?”
“Why? Will your boyfriend get mad if we do?” I teased. “You never told me what he does, you know.”
“That’s because I don’t have one,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here if I did.”
“Good.” I smiled. “Then he won’t care if I do this.”
I turned her around and stapled her to the window with my hips. Our bodies met from thigh to chest, a frenzied tension dancing between us. She stared up at me, her soft eyes aglitter.
“Dowhat?” she dared as she rose to her tip-toes.
I bent down and met her mouth. Her lips yielded to mine and we kissed, slowly, sensually, an electric jolt coursing through my body like a ripple in a pond.
Whoa.
