Page 101 of Wildest Dreams

My eyes widen as I glance down, instantly stumbling over thin air and making Tanner chuckle as he rights my position.

“Well, youwere,” he murmurs, grinning and squeezing me against him tighter when I give him a little shove. “You’re a natural, Aisling, I swear – you just gotta take your mind off the ice and then your body fuckin’ owns it.”

I look up at him from under my lashes, watching his broad chest steadily rise and fall.

I close my eyes momentarily and try to do what he just said – to let my body move naturally – even though I’m aware that Tanner is giving me a huge helping hand. I fumble clumsily on my boots and I feel my cheeks stain pink, but after taking a shaky little inhale I try to kick off with more precision than before.

My orientation isn’t great but at least I’m moving forward.

I slowly open my eyes and find Tanner watching me, his pupils wide and his throat swallowing hard.

“That was good,” he rasps, side-stepping some of the guys as he takes us around the back of their net, never taking his eyes off me. “So good, Aisling. I’m really fucking proud of you.”

My heart squeezes tight, his rough words so surprisingly sweet. So unapologetically gruff but with the gentlest sentiment behind them.

The busy rink around us fades into the background, just a shimmering white canvas while I search his molten eyes.

His cheek lifts slightly as he watches me watch him.

“Maybe you’re not the only one who wears their heart on their sleeve,” he murmurs, one of his hands holding me just beneath my elbow so that he can squeeze over my tiny freckle.

I breathe out a small laugh, endlessly surprised by him.

“I can’t believe that you even remembered that,” I whisper, as he pulls me in a gentle spin.

“How could I forget your freckle?” he murmurs, his voice so deep that it makes me giggle. Hearing that gruff voice say such cute words is doing crazy things to my heart.

Upon hearing me laugh his mouth lifts into a grin and he pulls me briefly against his chest as he hunches down to reach my ear. I shiver with pleasure as his stubble scrapes over my flushed cheek.

“I’ve been dreaming about your freckle for the past four years.”

I laugh and shove at his chest, although I quickly yip as I lose balance and I yank him closer, which only makes me laugh harder as I stumble over my skates once again.

“Okay,” I breathe, shaking my head at myself but still smiling. “So, I’m never going to be a professional figure skater,” I admit.

Tanner pulls me into the centre of the rink, hands resting chastely around my waist as I cling to his jersey like a baby koala.

He glances over at Austin as he calls to us, saying something about heading out to grab dinner in five. Then Tanner settles his gaze back on mine, looking calm.

Looking happy.

“You didn’t call me last night,” he murmurs, and I give him a confused smile.

“Was I supposed to…?” I ask, laughing lightly.

He rubs roughly at the back of his neck before encasing my waist with his hand again.

“I mean, we didn’t… like, I know if, uh…”

I lift my eyebrows slightly, kind of entranced by how nervous he seems.

“Yesterday, when the guys came back,” he rasps, his cheeks staining crimson as he tries to choke some words together, “and I mentioned that… because if we’re maybe… and I just, you know, really like you–”

“Oh my God, Tanner, just say what it is that you’re trying to say,” I tell him, unable to stop myself from smiling up at him because he looks downright hopeless right now. I pry one of my hands from his jersey so that I can give him a brief caress over his heart.

The action seems to floor him, his pupils swallowing his sparkling irises.

“I wanted to come over,” he murmurs. “When everyone had gone to bed, I wanted you to text me and tell me that you wanted me to come. I, uh…” His cheeks burn brighter as he swipes his tongue over his lower lip. “I slept outside last night, by the fire. In case you, uh, texted, so that Hunter and Fallon wouldn’t know…”

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