Page 74 of When Love Takes The Ice

“So, we’re on for charades?” I offer. I can’t hide the smile that appears on my face before I add, “Or a nightcap?”

I’m hopeful, but I still don’t want to push things too far too soon.

“Love one.” She nods, smiling as she reaches for the door handle.

“Let’s go.”

Maddison’s cell rings when we walk up to the house. She looks at me apologetically, but I show it’s no big deal, and she should answer it.

I flick some lights on as we walk inside, and I go in search of this nightcap I promised her, producing a bottle of red I brought with me. I hear she’s talking to Cindy, one of her friends in Seattle. She’s sweet on our team captain, Tyler, and if I’m not mistaken, they’ve been seeing each other in secret because her dad is the coach of the Seattle Hawks.

The conversation doesn’t last long. Just as I pop the cork and look for the wine glasses, I hear it’s gone quiet, and a moment later, two arms wrap around my waist. Surprised, I turn and smile towards her.

“Everything good?” I ask her, wrapping my arms around her back.

“Everything is great.” She smiles. “Cindy was just giving me the lowdown on what’s happening back home. Em is with Tay, and Susie’s out of town.”

“Tyler trouble?” I ask, though I doubt it. I think they’re both just as keen on each other.

“Yeah, I think they wanna come clean to her Dad.”

“Yikes.” I’ll have to get into the group chat between me, Jay, Taylor, and Tyler and see what’s going on.

“Anyway, she said she’s coming out to the game tomorrow with Tyler. Spur of the moment thing, they land early in the morning. She said to say hi, by the way.”

I grin down at her. “Am I a forgone conclusion, or did she know we were together?”

She thinks for a moment. “You’re a forgone conclusion,” she whispers, reaching up on her toes to kiss me.

I waste no time in reciprocating as she grabs onto my shirt, and one hand slides down to my ass, giving it a squeeze.

“You’re talking my kind of language,” I say, steering her backward so her back hits the wall. I run a hand down to her hip, not breaking from the kiss.

“What language would that be?” she says breathlessly.

“The language of making you feel good.”

“I want to make you feel good.”

“You already do,” I say, cupping her face in my hands as she looks up at me.

“Thank you for today,” she whispers, clearly heated and flushed from our kiss. She still has her hand on my ass, and my body wastes no time in responding to her.

“I didn’t really do anything.”

“You did plenty.” I resist the urge to groan at the way she squeezes my butt cheek.

“I’m glad I got to see you in action at the auction. That was hot.”

“You were hot!” She laughs, shaking her head. “Bidding like that in the middle of it, Phil Davie’s didn’t know what to do.”

I laugh, too, thinking back to the look on his face.

“I shouldn’t mention him when we’re pressed up like this.” She shakes her head again.

I lean further in, pressing my body to hers. I gotta wonder if my hard-on will ever relax around her.

“Ash,” she breathes when she feels me. She could hardly miss it digging into her hip.

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