Page 20 of Icebreaker
Even though we were nearing the end of the season, I was eager to attend practice. Knowing Ellie would be there made everything so much better, especially since I’d decided to claim him for myself—assuming he also wanted me because, you know, consent. Missing him for two days had really sucked. We’d developed a little routine in the evening, and since we weren’t dating, it would’ve been weird if I’d called him to continue it.
In the locker room, it didn’t take long to switch out of my street clothes, grab my gear, put on my pads, and get on the ice. I was running early, so I did a few laps around the rink to loosen my muscles. When I saw Ellie emerge from the tunnel, I immediately headed to the edge of the ice, where he was busy setting up practice pucks and sticks.
“Hey, you made it to practice.” It was a dumb opening line, but I didn’t have anything else to go with. So much for being the cool guy.
“Yeah, and only two minutes late,” Ellie said with a rueful laugh. “I’m not sure where else you thought I’d be, but yeah, I made it.”
“We’re still on for dinner, right?” He pulled his shirt down before he scrubbed a hand over his face. My sweet Ellie was nervous.
“Are you sure it’s okay? I don’t want to be somewhere I’m not supposed to be.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. You’re part of the team. Fuck anyone who says you aren’t.” A faint blush sprang across Ellie’s cheeks. Helooked down like his shoes were the most fascinating things in the world.
The urge to touch Ellie overcame whatever concern I had about respecting personal space. I pulled a glove off and covered his smaller hand resting on the rink wall with mine. My fingers laced with his before I tightened my grip. His fingers were long and delicate.
“And I want you with me tonight.” Ellie’s eyes shot to meet mine. They were wide and uncertain. “I’ve missed you too much to have you not come tonight.” I hoped he understood the sincerity in my voice.
“Brennen?” Ellie’s eyes were filled with uncertainty and something else that I couldn’t figure out.
“We can talk about it later when we have more time, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the last couple of days.” The way Ellie’s chest heaved told me my words struck a nerve with him.
Fuck it.
I leaned over the wall and kissed his cheek. The warm skin was smooth against my lips and his gasp went straight to my cock. When I drew back, Ellie’s shocked green eyes were filled with lust. He swayed toward me and the nerves in the pit of my stomach settled. I’d best not fuck this up.
When I leaned forward again, Ellie met me halfway. My mouth brushed against his lips, and the innocent, soft sigh he gave back in return fed my soul. I cradled the back of his head in my still-gloved hand. Because he was on the bleacher side and I was on the ice, we were more matched in height. I urged him forward, cursing internally when my gear kept me from feeling the full effect of his body against mine.
The whimper of disappointment that escaped Ellie when I drew back made me smile. My lips were still curved when I properly settled my mouth on Ellie’s again. My tongue traced theseam of his lips, and I nibbled his pouty bottom lip. When his mouth opened, I plunged my tongue inside with a growl.
I poured every bit of what I wanted to say to Ellie into that kiss. My tongue mapped every surface, every curve. My blood thrummed through my veins at his tentative, unpracticed attempt to reciprocate. I’d guessed he didn’t have a lot of experience, but nothing had prepared me for the juvenile and wholly unimportant knowledge that I might be the first man to taste him.
Maybe the last one too.
The sounds of the guys headed back from the locker room penetrated the fog around us, and Ellie wrenched his mouth away. He reached up to lightly touch his swollen lips as if he wasn’t sure if what we’d done had truly happened.
“Why did you kiss me?”
“Because I couldn’t help myself.”
When the lust faded from Ellie’s eyes, confusion replaced it, and I knew he wasn’t out of line to be concerned. For all the shit I talked about Matty, our reputations were identical.
“This is a bad idea,” Ellie whispered.
I wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or me.
“Before you talk yourself out of anything, let’s talk when we get home tonight after dinner.” Before answering, Ellie turned to look toward the noise of the approaching team. “Just talk. That’s it.”
“Ugh…umm…I guess…”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I let out a whoop and pushed off the boards. Ellie’s laugh, somewhere between a twinkle and a giggle, followed me.
I was gonna get my man.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ELLIE
