Page 38 of On Thin Ice

But I try to squash that thought down as I leave the gym after a long day of training, it’s unusual for me to finish before Sean so today it’s my turn to meet him at the rink. He’s been waiting outside the gym for me everyday after training, driving me either home to my dorm or to his place where I stay the night at least three times per week and more often than not if I'm not staying at his place he’s staying at mine. We’re rarely apart, already reliant on each other’s presence like oxygen. This relationship between us feels like it’s rocketed so fast, going from me hating him one minute to teetering on the edge of love the next. But in the exact opposite way I feel like I've known that man my entire life, like he’s always been there, waiting to fill that gap in my heart that only he can fit inside. I won’t tell him that though, I don’t need to boost his already oversized ego.

I push open the double doors and the cold air hits me square in the face, making my eyes sting, water filling them as I make my way towards the edge of the rink. My dad has already left and the guys are just putting a few cones and other random hockey shit away that I have no knowledge or interest in. I lean my elbows on the side of the rink, watching Kyle and Sean play fighting like children and stifling my laugh. I love seeing Sean happy, it’s my favourite hit of endorphins watching him in a state of playfulness like he is right now with his best friend. After a moment of them tackling each other, arms wrapping around each other’s heads and loud bellowing laughter coming from the two of them as they wrestle each other to the edge of the ice, Lewis catches me watching and throws me a shrug accompanied with an eye roll as if to say, ‘Children.’ I nod back, acknowledging that I am very much in agreement, these 6-foot tall, 23 year old men are still very much children in adult bodies, but I kind of love it all the same. Sean soon spots me and glides across the rink, my smile growing wider the closer he gets. His chocolate curls are wild when he ruffles them with his icy hand, his brown eyes melting into me as he gets closer and my heart flutters as usual. Plus, he never looks hotter than when he’s all kitted up in his hockey gear. My heartbeat settles between my thighs as Sean clashes with the half wall that I'm leaning on and dips his face to kiss me warmly.

“Hi beautiful girl,” He whispers, planting a wet kiss on my cheek before spraying the back of his sweaty neck with his water bottle, cooling his hot skin. God, he’s making me blush.

I stretch a sarcastic smile across my quickly reddening face. “Hi arrogant arsehole,”

Sean puts his water bottle down and smirks at me, letting his arms hang over the wall and dangle by my hips. Our faces are centimetres apart and I can taste his minty breath on my lips as the icy air creates clouds between us.

“Oh good,” he snickers, “I was hoping you’d be in one of those moods today. We’re going for a skate together before we leave.” Sean ducks down behind the wall as my eyes widen and my throat tightens. I can’t skate to save my life, I've always been a disappointment to my father’s hockey genes considering I can barely stay upright on a pair of skates. When he reappears he’s holding a pair of white ice skates, dangling them from his hand and flashing me a shit eating grin. He knows I can’t say no to his gorgeous face, his dimpled cheeks and his sexy caramel eyes, the man knows how to get his own way with me. I could never give up the fight that easily though, I can’t let him think he’s won just yet. I fold my arms across my chest and jut my hip out to the side. “No, we’re not. I can’t skate Sean.”

“Consider it a trust exercise.” He muses, lightly placing one hand on the curve of my spine as he leans close to my face again.

All the other guys have left the rink now so it’s just the two of us in this huge place and it's daunting as fuck to think about getting on the ice with Sean and completely embarrassing myself. The truth is I’m scared, terrified even because I know I'm no good at skating and every memory I have of it as a child includes my dad getting frustrated at my lack of natural talent on the ice. I always felt like a disappointment and the last person on earth I want to disappoint now is Sean Taylor.

Wow, never imagined a crazy thought like that would ever enter my mind. I’m not done with the sass just yet though. “You want me to trust you not to let me fall on that death rink?” I taunt but Sean's face softens a little, the smile fading and being quickly replaced with a serious look. He slings the skates over his shoulder and holds my waist in his hands, squeezing it reassuringly. “I’d never let you fall…” His eyes capture me in their depth and he tilts his head down, lips brushing against mine. “Never,” Then his lips connect with mine so softly it almost sends me to my knees. “Sean, I'm not—” I start to argue again, still not wanting to back down of doing this terrifying thing and having to really trust a guy I'm not sure I'm 100 percent ready to embarrass myself in front of yet.

But Sean presses his finger to my lips, halting my resistance. “Baby, it wasn’t an option.”

I'm speechless, as much as my instinct is to continue to argue with him, the way he’s taking control of me like that is so fucking hot I want to just burst into flames. So I huff, but takes the skates from his outstretched hand and sit down on the bench to put them on. I slip my feet into them, the unfamiliar stiffness and wobble when I place the blades on the ground is making my stomach slosh with anxiety.

Sean won’t let me fall, I know he won’t.

“Good girl,” He says, his voice smooth and reassuring as he pats his thigh, offering to tie my skates for me.

I’m too fucking nervous to argue now, so I land my blade on his thigh and watch as a arrogant and triumphant smile creeps onto his face. He loves bossing me around and I love it too, the worst part is the fucker knows it. He holds his hands out to me, helping me to my feet and onto the slippery death rink. My legs are shaking, trembling with nerves as I take a couple of steps, digging my nails into Sean's biceps as he guides me, gliding backwards like it’s the easiest thing in the world. I’m sure it is for Mr I'm good at everything. God, he still annoys the shit out of me.

How can someone so painfully attractive also be good at everything they try, even being someone’s boyfriend which they’ve never done before? As if he can read my every thought he cracks a bright smile, picking up our pace across the ice. I can’t pretend this isn’t a little thrilling, being upright and sliding so smoothly across the slick ice, Sean's hands holding my waist tightly, making me feel safe and secure in his grasp.

“See, I told you I wouldn’t let you fall.” He grins, lovingly giving my waist a small squeeze.

I bark a laugh and then my heart drops into my ass when I wobble a little. “There’s still time.”

He purses his lips, forcing his own laugh back down his throat. “Do you trust me more now?”

“Yes,” I answer too fast, not giving my brain time to think out a sarcastic answer like I usually would when every one of my brain cells is focused on not landing my ass on the freezing ice.

“Maybe…” I correct myself but it’s too late.

Sean’s arrogant grin is cracking his face wide open and before I have chance to fight him he bends down and throws my body over his shoulder, spinning us in a circle. I scream and pound his back with my fists, all the while trying not to piss my pants from laughing so hard. I hate to admit it, but it’s actually been fun skating with Sean. Maybe I only thought I hated the ice so much because every experience I've had with it had heavily featured my dad yelling at me.

Sean drops me gently to my feet off the side of the rink and moves behind me, making his way off the ice too. I bend down to untie my skates and I hear a groan roll up Sean's throat. When I lift my head his fist is in his mouth and his muddy brown eyes are glued firmly to my ass. “Can I help you?” I tease, watching as his eyes grow wider and his teeth dig further into his curled up hand.

He blows out a sharp breath. “Your ass is fucking exquisite.” “Yeah, I know.” I smirk, pulling my already aching feet from my skates and standing back on solid ground.

Sean still has his skates on which means he’s even taller than usual and he’s quite literally a giant towering over me right now. My vagina does a dance, licking her lips and imagining how great she’s going to be treated tonight, like most nights.

Sean leans down to my ear. “I’m going to fucking ruin you later.” He whispers, causing a tiny whimper of anticipated pleasure to escape from my lips. He smirks again, loving the way his words affect me before smacking a fleeting kiss to my jaw and walking down the hallway towards the locker rooms.

My god, it’s like my arousal switch is constantly on around him and I don’t know how to switch the damn thing off.

Chapter 31

Sean

“Can we have some music on in here for once? It’s like driving with my grandma.” Callie grumbles, twiddling the knobs on my radio and then giving up with a sigh.

The radio is the one thing that lets my car down, the soft leather heated seats, the tan interior, the automated parking is all well and good, but having no radio is a bit of a shit one at times. I rummage in my pocket, lifting my ass off the warmth of my seat and sliding my phone from the tight front pocket of my jeans, frisbeeing it onto Callie’s lap. “Here, plug my phone in and choose something. I will warn you though,” I reach over and squeeze her thigh. “My music isn’t to most people’s taste.” She rolls her eyes in the way I love and sighs. “Nothing about you is to most people’s taste. Apart from your—”

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