On Ice

OI Chapter 33

Saturday, October 27, 2012

I felt the bed dip the next morning far earlier than I wanted to wake up, mumbling I turned over into the warm space Kale had vacated and tried to drift back to sleep. I had almost accomplished my goal when I felt the bed shift a second time and a strong arm wrapped around my waist. Turning and nuzzling my face into the fresh scent of Kale’s just showered chest, I decided that perhaps it wasn’t too early to wake up after all.

“You looked so sweet, I couldn’t resist,” Kale murmured to me before his lips found mine. The kiss started off slow and exploratory, with lips and tongues but soon blazed into something hotter than either of us expected. Groaning, Kale backed off, collapsing back onto the pillow next to me. His eyes closed briefly before he turned his head and looked at the alarm clock and then to the door beyond. I blinked my eyes and couldn’t help that my lips parted in a pout. Kale noticed my reaction immediately and ran the fingertips of one hand across the pouting lower lip.

“Russ is up,” he told me, “We have to leave for the arena shortly.”

Scooting closer to Kale, I rested my head over his heart and tried not to feel disappointed. A comfortable quiet enveloped us while we were lost to our own thoughts. I tried not to get too excited as Kale’s hand stroked through my hair and down my arm before it came to rest possessively on my hip. I was only a bit startled when he moved suddenly, rolling me onto my back beneath him. My whole body heated at the stark hunger in his eyes. Almost breathlessly I waited for Kale to kiss me, feeling the anticipation growing almost painfully with every second that ticked past.

Finally, he ground out, “Living in this house, sleeping in the same bed but not allowed to do a damn thing until after the wedding is going to fucking kill me.”

Before he crushed his mouth down on mine and kissed me like he never wanted to stop. My fingers clenched around his biceps before I had enough sense to drag them up and tangle them in his still damp hair. Instinctively my legs parted for him, my knees cuddling closer to the part of me that I really, really wanted him to pay some attention to. My hips lifted, pressing to be closer still. His hands threaded through my hair, whispered along my jaw and neck before finding the hem of my t-shirt and beginning a deliciously naughty trek north that had me groaning into his mouth. I squawked with surprise as Russ pounded on the bedroom door, shouting, “Let’s go Rookie!”

Thankful that he hadn’t just burst in, I couldn’t help but giggle as Kale removed his hands from my breasts with the speed of a small child busted with one hand in the cookie jar. Kale pressed his forehead to mine, our heavy breathing mingling for a moment before he started to lift himself, pausing for one last kiss before he got up off the bed. I bit at my lip as I watched him finish dressing. When he turned with his hand on the doorknob, I said, “If you win tonight, I’ll let you take me to the cabin.”

It was hard to believe for a moment that the words had come from my lips and I felt my cheeks heat, but despite the embarrassment I wouldn’t take them back. A predatory gleam entered the teal eyes that were like a tractor beam to me, even if I’d wanted to there was no way I could look away.

“Pack a bag,” he ordered with a wolfish grin, winking over his shoulder as he stepped out of the room and disappeared into the hallway.

Sometime hours later, I bolted upright, rubbing my eyes and blinking at the alarm. It was nearly noon and I was running late. Hauling, I trotted down the hall and into the shower before quickly throwing on a t-shirt, jeans and a hoodie. My stomach was just starting to wake up and I wanted to head off any nasty nausea at the pass. Brewing some peppermint tea, I loaded up a super-sized travel mug, grabbed my phone, the purse I used infrequently and my keys. After locking down Fort Bouchard, I paused on the stone pavers that led to the garage and stared at Kale’s Jeep. Sipping my peppermint tea, I wondered for the millionth time what had possessed me.