Page 84 of Ice Princess

The school has a large football field for the kids to play. Like the basketball court, the net is missing from the goal posts. I make a mental note to buy some new nets for the kids.

As I near the outdoor sinks, a tall, muscular figure comes into view and my entire body goes still.

Oh my gosh.

Gunner.

Kinsey.

Is.

Shirtless.

Gunner cups his hands under the faucet and splashes his face. Droplets of water flicker across his shoulder to his cut bicep and slide down to his chiseled torso. The tattoos that he normally keeps under a respectful, long-sleeved exercise shirt are on full display, wrapping around his pale skin like he’s a Viking ripped straight out of a storybook.

Prickles pop on the back of my neck as my skin starts overheating.

There’s no way I should be looking at Gunner in this state. That dark hair, those tattoos, those muscles—it’s a testament to raw, powerful masculinity.

Maybe a littletooraw.

Maybe a littletoomasculine.

I should definitely look away.

But my feet are frozen on the ground and my head refuses to turn.

Breathe, Rebel. I remind myself when I start feeling lightheaded.

Gunner startles and his head twists to me. I blush, realizing I’ve been caught drooling over my mortal enemy.

Propriety takes control again. I force my gaze to the sky. “I-I brought you some sandwiches. Theilan and the t-team didn’t seem like they’d leave any leftovers.”

Why am I stuttering? It’s not like I’ve never seen a shirtless man before. They’re at the beach. And at the pool. And I’ve seen homeless men shirtless too. Sure, the homeless guys on the street donotlook like Gunner but…

Suddenly, the stream of water pouring into the sink shifts to silence.

Gunner’s boots crunch against sand and loose stones.

He’s walking over.

Nerves tangle in my stomach and I chew on my bottom lip, struggling to breathe evenly. My heart is hammering so hard against my ribs, there’s a real possibility it breaks out and starts flopping around in my stomach.

I can’t help it. My gaze darts to Gunner’s torso for one more peek.

Ugh! It’s disgusting how beautiful he is. The man might be arrogant, cold, and impossible to understand, but his body is a work of art, from the muscled arms to his six pack abs.

Wait. Are those only six? I’m sure I counted more than six earlier.

In a single step, Gunner closes the distance between us, taking my chin in his hands and tilting my head. “My eyes are up here, Rebel.”

Heat washes through my entire body. I wrench my chin out of his grip. “I wasn’t looking.”

A corner of his mouth curves up.

Am I insane? Are Gunner’s half grins somehow hotter to me now that I’ve seen him shirtless? What iswrongwith me?

A drop of water plops from Gunner’s hair which, unfairly, makes him look like a vampire prince who got caught in the rain.

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