I’m still processing when a new notification pops up.
Incoming video call.
My pulse jumps, and I hit accept without thinking.
And then she’s there.
Lying on her side, one arm tucked under her head, the other steadying her laptop. Her hair’s messy, falling over her shoulder in soft waves. Her tank top’s slipping just enough to make it hard to focus on anything else. There’s a flash of toned stomach between the hem and a pair of sleep shorts that look more like underwear than actual clothing.
“Fuck, Isabella.” My voice comes out rough as I rake a hand through my hair, already feeling way too hot for how far away she is.
She smirks. “Thought you wanted to see me.”
“I did. I do. I just—fuck.” I blow out a breath, dragging a hand down my face. “I just didn’t expect you to show up looking like that.”
Her eyes flicker with amusement as she glances down at her own chest, like she’s just now noticing how the thin straps of her tank top barely hold her in. “What?” she asks innocently, batting her lashes. “Am I distracting you?”
I groan, letting my head fall back against the pillow. “You know exactly what you’re doing to me.” My fingers curl around my phone, grip tightening. “Fuck, I wish you were here. In my bed. With me.”
Her laugh softens, and her lips pull into a smile that makes everything in my chest tighten.
“So,” she says, tracing her fingers over her blanket, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip, “you wanna see me again?”
I sit up straighter, arching a brow. “Thought that was obvious.”
She shrugs, like she’s trying to play it cool, but there’s a flicker of something in her eyes. “Last time you said it was a one-time thing and?—”
“That wasbefore.” I cut her off. “Before I got to fucking taste you and then had to see you every day knowing I couldn’t touch you again. Before last night.”
Her breath catches, but she doesn’t say anything. Just watches me.
I lean closer to the screen. “We’re not done, Curls.”
Her breath hitches. “No?”
I shake my head. “Not even close.”
Her smile grows, slower this time.
I smirk, my eyes scanning her gorgeous face through the screen. “I can’t stop thinking about you. It’s a problem.”
Something shifts in her expression. A flicker of heat in her gorgeous eyes. “What are you thinking about?” she asks, voice low, teasing… curious.
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “Thinking about how the hell you managed to turn my entire world upside down in one night.”
She lets out a breath, arching a brow at me. “Not sure if I should be flattered… or worried you’re about to ghost me.”
I shake my head, firm. “I’m not going anywhere.” Then I pause, because I owe her honesty. “But I meant what I said last night. I’m not looking for anything serious. Hockey’s kind of my whole life right now, and I suck at juggling shit. I don’t want to mess this up by pretending I’ve got it figured out.”
She nods, not looking the least bit surprised. “I get it. You don’t owe me anything. I’m not looking for anything crazy serious. I just want to… spend time with you. That’s all.”
I smile before I can stop myself. “Spending time with you sounds pretty damn good.”
She smiles, tilting her head. “How’s your body feeling?”
My lips twitch. “You mean after last night or after the game?”
She rolls her eyes, but her smile slips through anyway. “The game, idiot. You got rocked into the boards, Ryan. That kind of hit doesn’t just disappear.”
