Page 17 of Fire and Ice
Or did it matter?
Their light conversation seemed almost stilted compared to how easily they had conversed in the restaurant. When they arrived at her house, she waited for him to come around the vehicle and help her out.
He took her hand and linked his fingers with hers as they strolled up the pathway to her porch, colorful holiday lights glittering on the eaves. The lights from her Christmas tree glowed through the opaque curtain in her living room.
Her heart thumped as they walked to her front door. Her hand shook a little as she dug her keys out of her purse.
The moment she had the keys in her hand, he took them from her and slid them into his jacket pocket. Before she could say anything, he cupped her face in his hands and lowered his lips slowly toward hers.
Her mouth grew dry. She wanted him to hurry and kiss her, but realized he was giving her every opportunity to tell him no.
That wasn’t going to happen.
He kissed her, so very soft, so wonderfully sweet. She slid her palms up his shoulders and wrapped her arms around his neck as he tugged at her lower lip with his teeth. She gasped at the erotic sensation, and he took the opportunity to draw her tongue into his mouth. He sucked on it, somehow bringing her closer and closer to him, melding them together, mind, body, and soul.
She barely had a moment to breathe when he drew away before he kissed her again. A little whimper escaped her, followed by a moan of sheer pleasure. He moved his hands beneath her coat and rested his palms on her hips.
He brought her closer to him, pressing his hips to hers, and she felt the solid muscle against her. She gasped, giving him another opportunity to kiss her even deeper.
She was so very lost in the kiss. She didn’t know if she was strong enough to say no to him if he wanted to come in, or if he wanted more of her. In this moment, she would have given him anything he wanted…because she wanted it all too.
Yet his hands didn’t stray. They remained on her hips, warm and possessive. All he did was bring her impossibly closer to him, until they might have been one.
Her mind was reeling as he pulled away from her. She tried to catch her breath as he stepped back. He never took his gaze from hers as he dug in his jacket pocket and brought out her keys. She only had her house, car, and mailbox keys on her keyring, and he picked out the one for her home with no problem.
The pounding of her heart couldn’t have been any harder. She waited, still feeling his kiss on her moist lips as he unlocked the door and opened it. He held the door open and waited for her to step inside.
She stood inside the door, waiting for him to come in, too. He didn’t. He held out the keys, and she let them drop into her palm. To her surprise, he stayed on the porch, studying her with his intense gaze.
Was he waiting for her invitation? “Would you like to come in?” She couldn’t believe how shy she sounded.
He shook his head. “Don’t tempt me, Chelsea. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
A smile came from nowhere. He wasn’t pressuring her—he wasn’t trying to get her to do something she might not be ready for. She moved closer to him and leaned over the threshold. “You’re a good man, Grady Donovan.”
“That’s what you say now.” He put his forehead against hers. “Just wait ‘til the next time I get a hold of you.”
The way he said it gave her shivers.
“Oh, really?” She surprised herself at how flirtatious she was acting. “Can’t wait.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow at the rink, and we’ll set another date.” He kissed her one more time before separating himself from her. He turned and walked down the sidewalk to his SUV.
She waited for a long moment until he was in his vehicle before closing her front door and locking it.
Her breathing came slow and easy, but her stomach flip-flopped. She had just had the most wonderful night with one of the sexiest men on earth. And he wanted to see her again.
With a grin, she danced her way to her bedroom. It wasn’t going to be easy to get to sleep tonight.
6
“Again, Gracie.” Chelsea clapped and nodded to the ice. The fourteen-year-old turned and skated back to her spot on the ice surface and assumed her stance.
Chelsea signaled the cue to begin the routine.
Every time Gracie performed, it triggered memories and emotions in Chelsea. At one time, that was her. Every now and then, she felt a twinge of regret that she hadn’t been able to compete in the Olympics, as well as continue to build her career.
Her thoughts turned to raising her siblings and how much she loved them. She had made the right decision. She still missed the sport, but at least she could coach.
