Page 37 of One Shot

Five minutes later, Lucas and Bren finally persuade me to get on Lucas’ shoulders while he’s on the chairs. There is no way this turns out well.

Bren is holding my hands for support as I stand on the chairs that Lucas is already on. He picks me up with little effort and puts me on top of his shoulders like we are at a concert.

“Where was this height when I was at Stagecoach?! It would have been useful,” I joke. I’m secretly terrified of heights.

“Invite me next time. You are so light I could carry you up there for hours,” Lucas replies.

My stomach rumbles.

“Well, we don’t have hours. We have two takes at most. Get the pucks ready. Liam, keep doing what you’re doing.”

He laughs. He’s just been laying on the bench, abs oiled up, and arms behind his head, relaxed as can be. We get the first take. I’m about to say, ‘that’s all,’ when Lucas steps off the chairs with me still on his shoulders to get more pucks.

“LUCAS DONATO,” I screech, as he squats down to pick up the tossed pucks.

“I got you, Laur, don’t sweat it. I’m not going to let you fall without saving you,” Lucas says sweetly.

Bren snorts. Lucas and I both look at her, but she just shrugs. I wasn’t reading into it, thinking of what Lucas said in a romantic way. But now I am even more eager to get down.

“Lucas,” I holler again as he gets back on the chairs effortlessly.

Lucas has a hand on my right thigh, keeping me secure and steady. Thankfully, I barely notice because I am ready to be on the ground.

“Tell us when,” Lucas says, patting my left thigh.

Okay, now I notice a little more . . . Heat builds between my legs as he moves his hand slightly higher up my thigh. I hold back a groan, craving for him to go higher until he reaches my center.

Bren makes another barely audible annoyed noise, pulling me out of my lust.

“Three, two, one,” I say for the last time. I capture at least ten photos. “We’ve got to have a winning photo in here after all this.”

I scream the last part as Lucas steps off the chairs with me still on his shoulders. He grabs my waist and lifts me over his left shoulder holding me close to him. He sets me down facing him with little more than a sliver of space between us.

“See, I got you, Laur.” Lucas says, flashing that crooked smile at me.

“Thanks,” I reply in barely a whisper. My stomach growls again, and it’s definitely twenty times louder than my whispered gratitude.

“Bren”—I turn toward her—“Can you please do me a favor and pick up some food? I am going to starve if I don’t eat soon. By the time you’re home with something from Haee’s, I’ll be done with Lucas and ready to devour the burger, fries, and surprise milkshake you get me.”

I hope I'm convincing.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay for the last shots? Liam can stay if you want,” Bren replies.

Does she not want me to be alone with Lucas? Liam wearily looks at Bren, clearly ready to go home.

“Lucas and I will be fine. How about you pick up something for him too? The four of us can eat it back at the house. We shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes since we did the mock shoot. I know exactly what I want to capture.”

I look at Lucas. “If you want to eat with us, I mean. I should have asked if you had plans first.”

“Yeah, that sounds great. Thanks for including me.” A shy, half smile forms on his lips as he runs his fingers through his luscious brown hair. I’ve never seen Lucas look shy before, but it’s endearing.

Bren and Liam get their things together while Lucas and I chat about his photos.

“Alright, Captain Donato, I know exactly what I want you to do for me.” My cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. That didn’t come out how I wanted it to. “I mean how to pose. After the photos I took of you already, I have an idea. Did you happen to bring your jersey with you?”

“Yeah, it’s in my bag. Home jersey?”

I nod. Lucas grabs his jersey. I head out to the ice so he can change into his pads and skates. I chuckle to myself, shaking my head with disbelief. I guess I should have told him not to put the jersey on but to stay shirtless. But I certainly won’t mind watching him take if off.

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