Page 14 of On Thin Ice

Then she adds some more.

‘And you’re annoying.’

I smile so fucking widely it hurts. Why do I love that I can piss her off and turn her on at the same time so easily? And why is it so addictive? Why is she so addictive?

Chapter 12

Callie

I don’t know how that happened, but I think I need to just accept that I want him. I wish so much that I didn’t want him but I do. Only physically of course, he still irritates the shit out of me almost every second of the day, but why is he so painfully sexy? I’m on the brink of waving my ‘no casual sex’ rule for this 6-foot-4, excruciatingly charming playboy. What the fuck is wrong with me? I never thought I was this weak. I’m still not buying the whole ‘I want to date you’ nonsense, Sean Taylor doesn’t date and I don’t see why I would be the girl to change that. The woman that he’s going to marry one day will be drowning in money just like him and she’ll probably be a 5-foot-11 blonde with legs that go straight to the sky. Basically, the opposite of me…

I’m trying so hard to focus on my routines lately, it’s all I can think about — when I’m not thinking about Sean’s tongue all over me — but it’s not making much of a difference to the quality of those routines. I have a competition coming up and I’m about ready to rip my limbs off one by one for not co-operating with me. My legs just won’t do as I ask them to and when I attempt my final tumble of the night and land on my ass — again! — I groan loudly and smack my hands to my face.

“What the fuck is wrong with me?” I yell at myself, sitting on the ground and crossing my legs.

It feels like there’s a blockage in my brain, stopping the usual smooth connection between the instructions my brain is screeching and my limbs. I’m staring off into space, contemplating just laying down on this gym floor and wallowing in self pity when I hear the gym door creak open. I can smell him before I even break my vacant stare, his scent overpowering me as usual and making me instantly needy for him.

“You thinking about that orgasm I gave you yesterday?” He says and I can hear the smirk in his voice. There’s the usual arrogance I was waiting for. I grin with malice. “I faked it.”

I stand to my feet and pad across the floor area, determined to try my tumble once more before I leave and go back to the dorm. Molly is waiting for me with a tub of ice cream the size of my head and one of my favourite movies.

Sean’s airy laugh interrupts my train of thought. “Baby, I tasted it, there was nothing fake about it.”

I glare at him and lift my arms above my head, ready to let the adrenaline take over and try to land this fucking awful tumble again. “Stop calling me baby, Taylor, I'm not your baby.”

He grins. “You will be.”

I turn my head, ignoring his beautiful, annoying face and sprinting forward across the floor. I throw myself into my tumble, trying to keep track of the floor below me as I twist, planting my feet on the ground at last. “Fuck yes.” I shout, punching my fists in the air and jumping for joy. I’ve been trying to land that tumble for weeks and have only managed it a handful of times. Ellen is insistent that it needs to be in the routine, even though I clearly haven’t cracked it yet. I hate her sometimes. Sean is watching me with wide, sparkling eyes, full of pride and I feel my chest tighten.

He picks my bag up from the floor and gestures for me to come to him. “Come on, let’s go, the table is booked for 7pm.”

“What?” I say, fisting my hip and watching his face twist into a knowing smile. Why does he smile so much? Every time I see it I want to eat him up like a cookie.

“Our date,” He says, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the gym with him towards the locker rooms. He hangs my bag gently off my shoulder and leans down to kiss me, it’s so gentle and soft it almost takes my knees out. I lift up on my tiptoes, deepening the kiss.

“Umm,” I sigh, as Sean lifts my body up to his, my legs encircling his wide torso. The kiss is still slow, soft and meaningful and I find myself unsure on what the fuck to do next. I know what I want to do, I want to give him a chance, to let him prove that I can trust him. But I'm still terrified, his reputation exists for a reason, he created it himself with his fuck boy ways. Seeing this side of him, this gentle, puppy dog side of him is stirring up an internal battle in my chest.

I eventually wriggle down his body, letting my bare feet land on the cold ground. I take a breath, deciding which side of the battle is going to win today. “Sean, I don’t think it's a good idea us going on a date.” “I think it’s a great idea.” He says, running his thumbs along my jaw line. His eyes are still soft and swimming with hope. I fucking hate it. “I’m not sure I'm ready to put my trust in you yet.” I let my eyes drop to the ground and he instantly pulls my chin back up.

“Let’s stop playing this game now Cal, I was enjoying it at first, but you and I both know that this isn’t about sex. Please give me a chance, I’ve never done the relationship thing before so I'll admit I might need some help, but I want to try…with you.” His eyes are pleading with me, the swampy chocolate flitting between my lips and my own uncertain gaze. “I know you want to trust me.”

I swallow hard to stop the tears that are gathering in my eyes. “I’m scared.” I squeak and Sean lifts my chin with this thumb again. “What do you mean?” He says, his warm eyes melting me.

I swallow again, clearing the remaining tears from my throat. “I do want to trust you. You’re the most infuriating man I’ve ever met but there’s something about you that draws me in.” His signature grin spreads across his face. “I’m scared though, to put my heart on the line after last time.” His lips find mine, gentle and tender again and the urge to just climb inside his coat and let him hold me is gnawing at my insides.

“Baby your heart is safe with me, consider me your own personal safe. I’ll lock your heart in my chest with my own, if you’ll let me.” He cups my face again, his huge hands soft as they caress my cheeks. “I know I’ve never done this relationship thing before but I'll be so good at it, if you just let me try. Please let me try.” His eyes are still swimming with hope and I don’t know what else to do with his words but nod.

His forehead lands on mine and he takes a long breath. “Really? You’ll let me try?” He whispers and I lift my head away from his, throwing him another fleeting nod.

“This isn’t a relationship though Sean. I’m still not 100 percent convinced that you won’t get bored of me once we have sex, but I’m willing to give you a chance.”

His eyes flash with hurt for a second before he nods knowingly. “Ok, that’s fair…So, are you my girlfriend now?” He smiles, so soft and hopeful it makes me almost blurt out a yes.

“No, I’m not your girlfriend, we’re just dating, taking things slow ok?” I press my palms to his chest and feel the heat of his skin through his shirt. He bobs his head, contemplating. “Slow…I can do that.” He smiles and smacks a kiss to my jaw. “Come on, let’s go out for dinner.”

Chapter 13

Sean

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