Page 23 of Fire and Ice
After spending time out with Spot, they returned to the house. Grady hung their jackets, and Spot plopped onto a large dog bed near the couch.
Chelsea leaned against the archway in the kitchen as she watched Grady make popcorn in an old-fashioned popper on the stovetop. The warm smell of buttery popcorn soon filled the kitchen. When it was finished, and after he made two cups of hot cocoa with tons of marshmallows, just the way she liked, they returned to the living room.
Her belly fluttered as she sat on one end of the couch. He sat beside her, so close their bodies touched from shoulder to knee. The heat of his body and his sheer presence sent her heart racing, and her hormones elevated a notch or ten.
“We’re bound to find a movie to stream that sounds good.” Grady used the remote to turn on the large TV, then searched through the newest titles listed. It didn’t take long to pick a romantic comedy that had been out of the theaters for a month.
He put his arm around her shoulder and held her close, the bowl of popcorn on his lap. She was surprised at how relaxed she felt with him, and a happy sigh rose in her as tension flowed away in his embrace.
The movie was an endearing, funny, tear-jerker that had Chelsea laughing and growing teary-eyed at different moments. By the time it was over, she felt so comfortable with Grady that she didn’t want to move. He turned off the TV, and she tipped her head to look at him.
“You are as sweet as honey.” He stroked his finger along her jawline, his look intense. “I knew it from the moment I saw you on the ice. It’s in everything about you. You are genuine, and there’s no way for you to be anyone but who you appear to be.”
Tingles traveled from her scalp to her toes. Did he really mean it? It all felt too good to be true, and the other shoe would drop. She wasn’t sure how to respond, but she managed to whisper, “Thank you.”
He captured her face in one hand and lowered his head. He moved his mouth over hers, gently nipping her lower lip before sucking the soft flesh between his teeth. He slid his tongue between her lips, and she answered him, meeting his tongue with hers.
She caught her breath at the sensually erotic way he kissed her. She tasted popcorn, hot chocolate, and Grady’s wonderful flavor. He slid his tongue inside her mouth, and the tingles expanded everywhere.
A moan rose inside her as he kissed her. He stroked her shoulders down to her elbows and back. He touched the skin above her breasts and then skimmed his fingers along the top of her bra. For a moment, she stilled, but he didn’t move down any farther. Instead, he slid his hands up her arms before burying his fingers in her hair.
Small whimpers escaped her as he kissed her thoroughly. She shifted, and before she even realized what she was doing, she was on his lap, straddling him. Their gazes met and held for a moment before she lowered her head and kissed him.
She’d never initiated anything like this, and she felt untamed and free. With almost wild abandon, she kissed him with all the passion he brought out in her. She wanted more, needed more.
She started to slide from his lap, but he caught her to him. “I need to get you home.” His breaths were uneven, and desire was written all over his expression. “God, I want you, but I won’t take advantage of you because you’re in my home.”
A smile touched her lips. He was beyond a gentleman. She stroked hair from his temple and couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re an amazing man, Grady.”
He gave a pained laugh. “Believe me, this isn’t easy or amazing. It’s just the right thing to do.”
She grinned. “Yes, you are amazing.”
He shook his head as he got to his feet while holding her, letting her slide down until she stood in front of him. He kissed her one more time before he grabbed their jackets and helped her into hers. Spot rode with them as Grady took Chelsea home.
Grady walked her to her front door, took her keys from her, and opened it. One last sweet, amazing kiss, and then he waited for her to close the door and lock it.
She pushed aside the curtain in the window beside the door and watched him walk to his SUV. He looked back at her house before climbing into his vehicle and driving away.
Chelsea wandered into her house, feeling dreamy and not even close to sleepy. She was normally neat, but tonight she dropped her purse, shed her jacket, and stripped out of her clothes, leaving everything where they fell.
She dressed in her plaid holiday pajamas and climbed into bed, thinking there was no way she would ever fall asleep after a night like this.
But it wasn’t long before she slipped into a deep sleep with dreams of Grady and her. They danced on the ice until they spun into the mist and vanished.
8
“You have a pair for figure skating.” Chelsea looked at Grady with surprise as he brought a black pair of skates out of his duffel. It was the Saturday after the evening at his home. He had picked her up to go ice skating for their third date, and they had just come inside the rink. “You’re not just a jock.”
He laughed. “I used to skate with one of my older sisters when she needed someone to practice with. She competed with her usual partner, and they did pretty well. They never won any championships, but they did place more often than not.” He dropped onto the bench, tugged off his shoes, and then put on the skates.
She sat next to him and took off her own street shoes. “Every time we’re together, I learn something new and interesting about you.” She set aside her shoes and grabbed her own white skates. “You have many layers, Grady Donovan.”
“You have no idea,” he said with a teasing grin, but something flickered in his eyes that gave her pause.
“You haven’t been convicted of anything, have you?” She laughed as she said it, knowing it was absurd. At least she hoped it was.
“A few tickets.” He laced up his skates. “And you?”
