Page 29 of Boots & Scars

His smirk deepened, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "But you really are that innocent, aren't you?"

He set my skate down and placed both hands on either side of my hips, boxing me in. The heat of his body radiated through me, and I found myself unable to move, trapped by his intense gaze.

"Your mama ever teach you about the birds and bees?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "If you're talking about procreation?—"

"I'm talking about sex," he interrupted, his words cutting through the air like a knife. "Sex for the pleasure of it."

My eyes widened, and I felt a flush creep up my neck. I had never been this close to a man before, let alone one as rugged and intimidating as Cooper. His scars seemed to dance in the light, but instead of warning me away from him, they seemed to propel me even closer to him.

I tried to speak, but no words came out. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but none of them seemed appropriate for the situation I found myself in.

Cooper leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. "Maybe it's time someone taught you a thing or two," he whispered, his words sending a shiver down my spine.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could utter a word, a voice called out from across the rink.

"Cooper!"

We both turned to see John Walker standing at the edge of the ice, his arms crossed over his chest and a stern expression on his face.

I watched him, fascinated by the way his hands moved. It was like watching a master at work.

When he finished, he stood up and stepped back. "There. Try that."

I hesitated for a moment before standing up. To my surprise, the skates felt different. More secure, more stable. What had I done wrong?

"Goddammit, why the hell —" Cooper's voice trailed off behind me, but I ignored him.

I stood up, my cheeks burning from the intensity of the moment that had just transpired between Cooper and me. I tried to ignore the way my heart raced as I made my way towards the ice, but it was impossible to shake the feeling of his hands on my skates, his breath hot against my ear.

I stepped onto the ice, feeling the familiar glide of the blades beneath my feet. The cold air whipped around me as I began to skate, my mind still reeling from the encounter with Cooper.

What had just happened? I had never been that close to a man before. The way he had looked at me, the way his hands had moved so deftly over my skates… it was all too much to process.

I tried to focus on my skating, on the rhythm of my blades cutting through the ice, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Cooper. The way his scars danced in the light, the way his voice had dropped to a low rumble when he talked about sex...

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. I couldn't let myself get distracted by thoughts of Cooper. I had come here to skate, to celebrate the end of finals and the beginning of summer. I couldn't let one encounter with a brooding hockey player derail all of that.

But even as I tried to push thoughts of Cooper from my mind, I couldn't help but wonder what he had meant when he said that maybe it was time someone taught me a thing or two. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I found myself skatingfaster, as if I could outrun the feelings that were beginning to stir within me.

The sensation was incredible. The cold air rushed past my face as I moved, and I could feel the power in my legs propelling me forward.

I wobbled a bit, my inexperience still evident, but I didn't care. This was freedom. Pure, unadulterated freedom.

I let out a laugh; the sound echoing across the empty rink. For a moment, I forgot about everything else—the exams, the stress, the expectations. It was just me and the ice.

I glanced over my shoulder at Cooper, who was watching me with an unreadable expression. Was that a hint of a smile on his lips? No, it couldn't be.

I turned my attention back to the ice, determined to make the most of this moment. I pushed myself harder, faster, reveling in the rush of adrenaline that coursed through my veins.

I skated around the rink, enjoying the sensation of the cold air against my skin. The freedom of the ice was intoxicating, and I couldn't help but smile as I glided across the smooth surface.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a couple of other students entering the rink. They looked tentative, as if they weren't quite sure what to expect. I watched as Cooper went to grab them skates, his brow furrowed in concentration.

As I made another lap around the rink, I spotted John Walker heading towards the exit. I waved at him, and he gave me a nod in return before disappearing through the doors. I wondered what he had been doing here, but my thoughts were quickly interrupted by the sound of Cooper's voice.

"You gotta be kidding me," he grumbled as he handed the skates to the other students. "You're gonna fall on your asses out there."

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