Page 28 of Crazy Pucking Love
“I have one of those.” Dane stood and started toward the back of the apartment, and I followed after him. My first instinct was to take a better look at his bedroom and see what insight I could gain, but I forced it away because right now my assignment took precedence.
Dane sat me on the foot of his bed and grabbed the laptop off his desk. The roller chair in front of it had about a weeks’ worth of clothes on there, which explained sitting on the bed instead, although I was starting to get distracted thinking about Dane lying in it every night.
The familiar cologne he wore was stronger in here, too, and I fought the urge to lean down and sniff his bedding—that’d probably come across as clingy and border-line obsessed, and all the things I was trying not to be.
The bed dipped as Dane sat next to me and opened up his laptop. He typed in the password and handed it over.
My fingers flew across the keyboard as I pulled up the page for my email. Usually I was already logged in, computer or phone, and it took me two tries to remember which of my common passwords went to my email address.
I opened the document, checked that everything was in order, and after a quick glance at the time—four minutes till midnight—I decided it’d have to go without the reference. I double-checked I had the right email address before attaching the document and sending it. Cool relief flooded my veins and I closed the laptop and smoothed my hand across the top. “Thank you. Missing that assignment would’ve been bad.”
“Sure thing.” Dane reached over me, placing the computer on the nightstand, and I took a whiff, feeling bolder now that the crisis had been averted. Plus I figured he wouldn’t notice.
Speaking of noticing, I couldn’t stop staring at the strong line of his back and the way his T-shirt clung to his muscles. I never thought I’d be jealous of clothing, but there it was.
I shot him a smile when he glanced my way, trying to cover my ogling. “Seriously, you were totally the hero tonight.”
Dane grinned. “Yeah, I’m practically a brunette Thor—if you’re going to compare my long hair to someone, let’s stick with superheroes.”
“Thor.” I gave one sharp nod, my smile widening. “Got it.”
He grabbed the hockey stick next to his bed and lifted it above his head. “See, got my hammer.”
As he lowered it, I gestured for him to hand it over. I spun it in my lap, studying the scuffs and tape. “Hmm. I must be worthy.”
“To hold my stick?” He cleared his throat, apparently realizing at the same time I did how easily that could turn into an innuendo. Was it bad to wish he’d turn it into one? I couldn’t, because I didn’t want to be shut down for the second time tonight—my self-esteem could only handle so many hits.
I handed his hockey stick back to him. “It’s a little crooked on the end. You should look into that.” Okay, so I failed at totally fighting back the innuendos—but I’d gone for more funny-and-clearly-a-joke, and judging by his snort-laugh, it’d worked.
He sighed, the sound happy yet tired, and his eyelids drifted closed. He jerked up his head, scrubbed a hand over his face, and blinked.
“You’re tired,” I said. “I should leave so you can get some sleep.”
He tossed off his beanie and raked his fingers through his hair. “I start feeling like this, then the second I lay down everything hits me at once and I pop back awake. I probably won’t actually be able to fall asleep.”
“Well, try anyway. You need it.”
“So do you. I’ll try if you do.” He toed off his shoes and scooted back on the bed. He tugged on my arm, and between the tug and the way the bed dipped with his weight, fighting gravity didn’t seem worth it. I slid into him, until my back hit his chest, and he draped his arm around my waist. You know, like friends do? “Let’s just rest for a little while.”
His breath skated over my neck and my heart hammered against my ribcage, working double-time even as my muscles relaxed into the embrace. “Tell me something,” he said as he ran his finger down the chain of my earring and pinched the pink heart between his fingers. “When you were taking all those figure skating lessons, did you still wear your giant earrings?”
“No. Well, once I forgot to take them out during practice, and they smacked me in the side of the face every time I spun.” Thanks to the beanie I’d donned during our time on the rink, these ones had stayed in place.
Dane’s chest bumped against my back in a silent laugh. I rolled slightly, and he flashed me a sleepy grin. “I could totally see it,” he said.
“How about you? When did you start playing hockey?”
“As soon as I could walk. My dad used to play. He even tried to get my sisters into it. It only took with one, and she’s a hell of a goalie. No one can get past her.”
I reached up and pushed my fingers through his hair and his eyes drifted closed. “Even you?”
“Of courseIcan.” He smiled, but didn’t open his eyes. His hand slipped around my waist and he hooked his fingers on my hip, sending electric tingles dancing across my skin. “I would’ve gone crazy tonight if you hadn’t come over—you know that?”
I traced the curve of his strong jaw, relishing the prickle of his whiskers against the pads of my fingers as I watched his pulse throb at the base of his throat. There was a part of me that screamed I should leave before I completely fell for Dane Kowalski, but I could feel his body relaxing more every second, and I knew he needed to sleep. That real, sound sleep that often danced just out of reach, taunting you with its magic rejuvenation power.
And because I cared about him, I decided that instead of fighting the pull, I’d close my eyes and enjoy it.
Only for a few minutes. Then I’d sneak out and leave him to sleep as I went home and attempted to do the same.
