Page 59 of Ice Cold, Red Hot
She glanced at me then, and when our eyes met, I felt that energy that was always there between us. She smiled and looked back up, but the space between us had closed a bit. I could feel the warmth radiating from her.
“Some really hot, really smart guy who was easy to talk to, funny… some guy who had some really incredible talents…”
“Hockey, you mean?”
“Not at all. I was thinking more about that thing you did with your tongue…” Her voice got breathy and trailed off, and my body reacted immediately. God, I wanted to touch her. But there were things to say first.
“Celeste,” I said, wanting her eyes on mine. When she dropped her chin and looked at me, I reached out for her hand. Her fingers, though covered in a knit glove, were still long and elegant as they wound through mine. “I wasn’t ready for you when we met. I was impulsive and arrogant,and the only thing I understood about love was that it came when I scored. When I performed.”
Her fingers tightened on mine.
“You made me want to see how it could be different, though.”
She didn’t say anything, and I went on.
“I’ve made so many mistakes,” I said. “The fight on the ice, punching Ethan… pushing you away. If I were you, I’d have given up a long time ago. You’re probably way too good for me. So I guess the reason I wanted to talk was to ask this: have you given up? I won’t blame you if the answer is yes.”
Celeste’s eyes held mine as my heart froze, waiting for her answer, waiting to see if there was still a chance.
“I wanted to give up,” she said, a smile lifting one side of her mouth. “I wanted to walk away, write you off… “
My heart sank.
“But Shepherd, I couldn’t.”
Hearing those words, and seeing the wide smile take over her face, I knew everything I needed to know. There was more to say, but as Celeste leaned in toward me, I decided that words could wait.
I pulled our linked hands until she was in my lap and my arms could go around her, her legs over mine. And then, I guided her head to mine, and kissed her—slowly, tentatively, sweetly. Because this girl? This girl was worth taking my time with. And if I had my way, I’d have forever.
CHAPTER 28
CELESTE
I hadn’t been sure what to expect, sitting out there on the bench watching the crowd wander away from the rink.
Shepherd had taken longer than I’d expected, and with every minute I waited, my hopes flagged. Had he wanted to tell me it was over for good? Had losing the game, and ending his season been too much for him?
But the second I saw him exit the arena doors, I knew that wasn’t the case.
He didn’t walk like a man who was defeated, and he didn’t have that hunted look I’d seen on him so many times—like his past was on his heels full of expectation and demands. Instead, his head was high and he looked calm. Assured. And then he’d seen me, and I’d been certain. This was not goodbye.
Now, walking at his side back to his truck holding hands, I felt the weight of promise all around us. There was still so much to be said, but I already knew that all the pain and uncertainty was over—and it was worth it.
Even holding Shepherd’s hand made me happy. Becausewhile the sex was… well, it was incredible… it wasn’t the reason I wanted him. Something about the man at my side made me better. His confidence in me, his comfort with my background, and the fact that he didn’t ask me to justify myself—it felt like an acceptance I’d never really had before.
Just as I didn’t see him as a promising hockey player on the brink of losing it all, he didn’t see me as a scrappy kid from a bad neighborhood desperate to be the one to make it out. I was just Celeste. And he was the man I loved.
We rode back to the building in silence, and when we parked outside, Shepherd came around and opened my door for me, helping me slide down from my seat so that I landed with my back against the seat and him at my front.
“Hi,” he said softly, inches from my face, our bodies touching.
“Hi,” I breathed, the anticipation between us ramping up my need for him.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he said.
Before I could answer, his mouth was on mine, his hands on my body, and everything in me felt like it was exhaling a long-held sigh of relief.
I pressed myself into him, feeling every solid inch of his body against mine until I couldn’t get close enough. Shepherd maneuvered us out of the cab, closing and locking the truck without breaking the kiss. And then he stepped back, leaned down, and swept me into his arms like a bride, his mouth finding mine again as I laughed at the sweetness of the gesture.
