Page 201 of Skate the Line

“Then maybe my teammates will stop picturing you naked.”

I flatten my lips and glance toward Ellie, who is playing hockey with a couple other younger kids of guys on the team. Malaki, a kid himself, is in the middle of them, acting as the ref.

“They don’t do that,” I argue.

“Trust me, they do. They tell me.”

Rhodes slowly skates us over to the bench. He sits me down and then takes a seat beside me and grabs his water.

“Well, I guess kudos to you for being the only one who actually knows what I look like naked,” I joke.

He turns toward me and slants his head. His eyes darken, and there’s a sudden shift in the air.

“You shouldn’t say things like that while we’re in public.”

My heart falls when I look out onto the ice.He’s right.

“I don’t think anyone heard me,” Most of the kids are skating with the team, and the rest of the families are watching from the other end of the arena. “But you’re right.”

Talk about being a hypocrite. I just told him to put me down so no one thought anything and then I go and say that out loud?

Rhodes slips his gloves off one by one and places them on the other side of him. I sit back and watch Ellie playing with the other kids, laughing with Malaki as he blows a fake whistle for a made-up penalty.

“You took that the wrong way.”

I slowly turn and stare at the side of Rhodes’s sharp jaw. He keeps his focus pinned to the commotion on the ice, but I know he feels me looking. There’s a little bit of scruff on his high cheekbones that I remember feeling against my skin the other night, and I can’t stop staring at his flickering temple.

“How so?” I ask.

“I meant you shouldn’t say things like that while we’re in public, because now seeing you naked is the only thing I can think about.”

My lips open with surprise.

Rhodes snaps his attention to me, and the air sizzles.

I start to sweat when he stares at my mouth.

Oh my god.Is this all it takes? One glance and I’m burning for him?

He turns away with an exhale, and I do the same.

I do my best to focus on the rink, but when he scoots an inch closer, my heart leaps out of my chest.

If he touches me, I’m a goner.

I watch Ellie skate circles around the other kids. It’s a desperate attempt to distract myself so I stop wondering what’s happening with me and Rhodes, but then his body heat surrounds me.

My hands fall beside my legs so I can grip the bench. A shaky breath tumbles from my tight chest, and by the faint groan I hear from Rhodes, he hears it.

Kane starts playing with the kids, joining the losing team. He glances at us and stares for a beat too long. One quick nod in our direction, and Rhodes’s finger grazes mine.

Excitement rushes through me, as if I’ve never been touched before.

Each brush of his skin against mine leaves a fire behind.

I can’t breathe.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice is velvety. Smooth and silky against my skin.

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