“Oh my god,” I pant as I collide with the wall. My chest is heaving, and I’m soaked with sweat. This is more of a workout than I’ve had in years.
But while I might be battling to catch my breath, I can’t keep the smile off my face. It’s so wide, it makes my cheeks hurt.
“Kodie, oh my god,” I cry as he comes barrelling toward me.
I curl in on myself as if that’ll help make me smaller and lessen the pain of our inevitable collision.
But right at the last second, he stops himself.
His palms land on the plexiglass on either side of my head, his hips pressing my ass into the boards.
“Good game, baby,” he breathes.
I give myself a little mental high five, because despite him being better than me in every possible way, he is actually a little out of breath. I’ll take that.
“Were you able to keep up?” I ask.
“Only just. You’re a beast on the ice.”
“Well, I don’t like to brag, but my father is a professional, don’t you know?” His eyes twinkle with mischief.
“Is that right? I guess that explains it.”
Ducking down, he steals a quick kiss.
I chase his lips when he pulls back again, needing more. But he doesn’t allow it.
“We should go,” he says. “We might not have training today, but that doesn’t mean some of the guys won’t turn up.”
Realization rocks through me, and my eyes jump to the clock on the Jumbotron.
“Shit, is it really that late?”
“Come on, you’re all sweaty. I need to clean you up.”
“Oh yeah, you definitely need to do that,” I eagerly agree before allowing him to tow me off the ice.
This is going to really hurt tomorrow.
“Sit down,” he demands, nodding to the bench the second westep onto firm ground.
I do as I’m told and watch in delight as Kodie drops to his knees and begins unlacing my skates.
“You’re fucking sexy, Casey. But seeing you out there, bossing it? Fuck, baby. Made me so goddamn hard.”
I watch his fingers as he unties my laces. His hands are massive, but he works with skill and precision. I guess he does do this multiple times a day.
“Now you know how I feel during every single one of your games.”
“Every single one?”
“Every. Single. One.”
A groan rumbles deep in his throat before he surges to his feet and sits beside me, working on his own skates.
“Let’s go,” he says after I’ve put mine away. “I’ve got plans for you.”
Side by side, hand in hand, we leave the deserted arena behind.
