Page 99 of Wildest Dreams

He gives my throat a gentle squeeze before reluctantly releasing it. Both of his hands swoop down to take mine and he jerks his chin at me, silently commanding my attention.

“I’m gonna pull you, so just relax your feet and let yourself glide.”

“Tanner,” I say warily, instantly looking down at my skates as he slowly begins moving backwards. I release a small squealing sound.

“Ash.” His voice is so deep that I glance up at him without even meaning to. “That’s it,” he murmurs. “Eyes on me.”

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as he begins gently tugging me forwards, my Bambi-legs sliding dangerously outwards and making me squeeze my eyes shut as I whimper.

“Aisling.”

One of his warm palms cups my cheek and I reluctantly squint one eye open so that I can peek up at him. When he sees that I’m still semi-functioning he relaxes a little and offers me a handsome smile.

“It’ll be easier if you keep your eyes open, baby,” he murmurs, making me hastily glance toward all of the guys that we’re slowly skating closer to.

Well, Tanner is skating effortlessly closer to them – I’m just along for the ride.

“Tanner,” I whisper frantically as he pulls me a little closer, “you can’t call me that right now. We’re supposed to be keeping this a secret. And here you are, holding my freaking hands.”

I shake my head as I start to freak out about how obvious we’re being.

“Everyone’s going to know.”

The look in Tanner’s eyes is gentle, longing.

“Aisling, I swear, no-one is going to think that anything is going on between us.” He caresses his thumbs firmly over my knuckles. “They all already know that I’m crazy about you, but no-one is going to think that you’d ever return those feelings.”

I blink up at him in surprise, my body now stilling for a completely different reason.

“Why would… why would no-one think that?” I ask, my voice still light and breathless as I look him up and down.

Because, as much as I would have previously hated to admit it, me not liking Tanner just doesn’t make sense.

Even though I have tried to ignore him since our freshman year, Tanner is undeniably the hottest guy that I’ve ever seen. His features are hard and beautiful, and his body is broad and strong. And then add on the fact that he’s a hockey player? I can’t believe that he’s actually single.

A smile crease pulls taut beneath his sharp tan cheekbone.

“’Cause you’re too good for me,” he murmurs, locking my fingers tighter between his, “and you can have anyone you want, so why would you ever be with a guy like me.”

The gentle chuckle that leaves his throat only makes my heart squeeze more painfully.

“But you can have anyone you want, too,” I argue, searching his eyes with mine. I breathe out a humourless laugh as I mumble, “I mean, clearly. Seeing as you fucked your way around campus–”

This time he laughs loudly as he stops my skates from sliding out again, before he meets my eyes, something dark and dangerous in his irises.

Before I can even blink he’s spinning me one-eighty, smothering my yelp with one of his palms before settling his other hand around my hip.

He stabs his chin into the curve of my neck, smiling against my skin when his rough stubble has me shivering.

“Who put me in that position, baby?”he taunts, a dark bite in his voice. One of his knees knocks into the back of mine, pushing me forwards.

I narrow my eyes at the empty half of the rink, glittering in front of us.

“Oh, so you screwed around at Carter U forme?” I breathe, my husky tone filled with mock-gratitude as I rest a hand over my heart. “How sweet,” I whisper, “you shouldn’t have.”

He breathes out a laugh before hauling my hips up against his groin.

“I told you, I only wanted you. You were the one who wouldn’t let it happen.”

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