Page 70 of Boots & Scars

The song changed to another upbeat tune from her playlist, but we didn't miss a beat. We skated and laughed and talked about everything and nothing. It felt easy—natural even—like we were meant to be here in this moment together.

At one point, Everly tried a spin and stumbled slightly. I reached out instinctively to steady her. Her hands gripped mine for balance as she looked up at me with those wide eyes again.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"No problem," I replied softly.

The rink felt warmer now, filled with more than just the cold bite of ice. As we continued to skate under the soft glow of theoverhead lights, surrounded by music and laughter, it seemed like nothing else mattered but us in that moment.

"Hey, Cooper," she said, moving closer to me, her breath warm against my neck. Her eyes locked onto mine with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "I think..."

"Yeah?" I cocked my head to the side, trying to read her expression.

"I think I'm going to kiss you now," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft hum of the rink.

Every rational thought screamed at me to pull away, to put distance between us. But I couldn't. Something in her gaze held me captive, rendering me powerless.

And I was a selfish man. I wanted to kiss her.

Hell, I wanted to do more, but I'd take what I could get.

When her lips met mine, it wasn't the hesitant brush I expected. She kissed me with a boldness that took me by surprise. Her lips were soft but insistent, and when she tentatively brushed her tongue against the seam of my lips, I opened for her immediately. The taste of her flooded my senses as my grip on her body tightened instinctively.

The kiss deepened, growing more passionate with every passing second. Her hands slid up my chest and around my neck, pulling me closer as if she couldn't bear any distance between us. I responded in kind, my hands tracing the curve of her back, pressing her against me.

Nothing else mattered; there was only the sensation of her mouth moving against mine. Each movement was deliberate, filled with a hunger that matched my own. Her tongue explored my mouth with an urgency that set my blood on fire.

I tilted my head to deepen the kiss further, losing myself in the feel of her. My heart pounded in my chest like a drumbeat echoing through the empty rink. Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging gently as if anchoring herself to this moment.

Every touch sent shivers down my spine, igniting a fire that burned hotter with each passing second. It was raw and unrestrained—nothing like I had imagined but everything I hadn't realized I needed.

We finally pulled back for air, our breaths mingling in the cold air between us. She looked up at me with flushed cheeks and eyes that sparkled with emotion. My own breathing was ragged, matching the racing of my heart.

For a moment, we just stood there, caught in the aftermath of our kiss—both knowing that something had irrevocably changed between us.

The kiss lingered in the cold air, her taste still fresh on my lips. The thought of what just happened scared the hell out of me. I didn't want this. Not again. Not with some eighteen-year-old girl who couldn't say a bad word to save her life.

But the way she looked at me, like I meant something… it tugged at parts of me I'd thought long dead. It made me feel worthy, and I was too much of a monster to do the right thing and push her away.

Because I wanted her. Fuck, I wanted her more than anything I ever wanted. I knew I didn't deserve her, but right now, I didn't care.

21

Everly

My heart pounded in my chest as Cooper's lips met mine in the dimly lit skate closet. The world outside ceased to exist; it was just us, entwined in a moment that felt like it could last forever. His hands held my waist firmly, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The kiss was electric, igniting a fire that spread through my veins, consuming every part of me.

His lips moved with a hunger that matched my own. Each kiss deepened, our breaths mingling in the small space. My fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as if afraid he might disappear. His rough stubble grazed my cheek, a contrast to the softness of his lips.

I couldn't get enough of him. The taste of him, the feel of his body pressed against mine—it was intoxicating. My skin tingled everywhere he touched, sending shivers down my spine. It felt like I was on fire, and only he could quench the flames.

Cooper's hands roamed up my back, pulling me even closer. I could feel his heartbeat matching the frantic rhythm of mine.Our kiss grew more urgent, more desperate, as if we were trying to make up for all the time we had lost.

But then, just as suddenly as it began, Cooper slowed the kiss. His lips softened against mine before he pulled away slightly. His amber eyes had darkened to a rich brown, filled with an intensity that took my breath away.

He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose. It was tender and sweet, a stark contrast to the passionate fire we had just shared. It made my heart flutter in a different way.

"We should probably get back out there," he murmured, his voice low and husky.

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