Sighing, she rubbed her eyes. “Because I just had a meeting with management, and they wouldn’t even listen to me.”
“Management rarely does.”
“Yes, I know. ButI’min management at the moment, and they should have at least listened to my suggestion.”
“What suggestion?”
She bit her lower lip. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
He chuckled softly and latched on to the edge of the pool with his other hand, wedging her between his arms. He enjoyed the way her pupils dilated when he did so. Her knees brushed against his thighs. He couldn’t lie to himself. It wasn’t the cold – he knew she was to blame for the telltale goosebumps spreading across his entire body.
“So, if you don’t want to talk and I don’t want to talk…” he said slowly, moving his hands closer together so that his thumbs ran over the wet fabric of her blouse.
He saw Penny swallow before she whispered, “What’s going to happen, Jack?”
He didn’t know himself. He just knew that he was tired of feeling bad about his father and Penny could make everything better.
“Well,” he said thoughtfully, “I was just wondering if you truly believe all men are stupid?”
The corners of her mouth twitched, and her gaze darted to his lips. Only for a tenth of a second, but he saw it. He felt it all over his body.
“You’re flirting with me again,” she whispered. Droplets ran down her cheek and fell into the water, forming small ripples.
“No,” he murmured and slid his right hand to her neck. He put his thumb under her chin to lift it. “What I’m doing is much more than flirting.”
She bit her lip again. Her chest rose and fell faster. “Jack, if you kiss me now, it’s only to distract yourself. To distractme.”
“That sounds like a fantastic idea,” he murmured roughly…and kissed her.
Because he didn’t want to talk anymore. Because he didn’t want to be angry anymore. Because he wanted her to forget what was frustrating her so much. Because they were alone, and they had an opportunity. Because he hadn’t thought of anything else for weeks. Because he didn’t care how many more reasons hecould list – the fact that hewantedit would have been enough for him.
So, he closed his eyes, pressed his lips to hers, and turned his mind off. He held the edge of the pool with one hand, stood on the small ledge along the side, his feet between hers, and took what he had wanted for weeks. Gave her whatshehad wanted for weeks. Penelope sighed, hesitated for a second…and then gave in to the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck while she pressed her upper body against his. Jack felt the buttons of her blouse against his bare chest and her hard nipples fighting their way through the damp fabric. He felt Penny. Tasted Penny. Thought of nothing but Penny…and how he had missed her.
It was ridiculous. It had only been one night, but it had also been one of the best he had ever had. So, he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue against hers and getting hard immediately. Penny’s moans were swallowed by another greedy kiss as she pressed her belly against his length and rubbed against him until he couldn’t think straight. He kissed her jaw and neck, enjoying the way she shuddered at his every touch. Her skin was so warm in contrast to the cold water. He ran his thumb gently over her cheek before claiming her mouth again, wishing he could stay in this moment forever.
But moments always passed.
“Wait, wait,” Penny murmured breathlessly, pulling away from him. Her lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed, and her arms were still wrapped around his neck. All of this was in direct contrast to her next words: “We shouldn’t… We should act more grown up.”
He had to suppress a smile. Even when they were kissing, she was still conflicted. “I think making out is very grown-up.”
She laughed nervously. “Jack, you know what I mean. We’ve been at this exact point before. Jack…”
“I know my name.”
“Jack! We shouldn’t…”
“Screw what we shouldn’t do,” he interrupted, shaking his head and burying his hand deeper in her wet hair and pressing his pelvis against hers. He did it just because he wanted to watch Penny’s eyes widen with desire. “We tried to keep our distance. We failed. We can’t forget what happened, so let’s remember it, instead. I want you, Penny. All the time.” He ran his hand down her neck, feeling her pounding pulse under his fingertips. “When I’m in the shower or on the ice. When I’m alone or with a dozen hockey players. I want you and I get hard just hearing your damn name. I can’t think, I can’t sleep. I wake up and feel your hands on my body. Smell and taste you as soon as I close my eyes — and nothing helps.” He slid his hand lower, tracing her contours underwater. He pulled her skirt up higher and pressed his thigh between her legs. “So, I don’t care that it’s wrong. Because wrong never felt so right.”
Penny licked her lips before wrapping her arms more tightly around his shoulders. She pressed her thighs together, pushed against him. Still, she said, “But…”
“There will always be a ‘but,’” he murmured, running his fingers over the soft skin just above the waistband of her skirt. “And let’s be honest, if we acted like adults, we would both have to tell the other why we’re in such a bad mood. And neither of us wants to talk about it, so…”
“Okay, I’ll talk about it,” she said quietly, even though her breathing was getting more ragged with each second. Even though she had dug her fingers into his shoulders.
God, she was a much better person than he was, even if she was the more nervous one, because her next words were quick and fluid.
“I suggested they use Leon Alvarez as a winger.”
