Page 59 of Offside for Christmas
"Yes," she whispered, understanding. "Yes."
He pushed inside slowly, watching her face, and they both stilled, adjusting to the sensation. She felt perfect around him, and for a moment he couldn't move, couldn't breathe, could only feel.
"Okay?" His voice was strained.
"Yes—God, yes—" Her legs wrapped around him. "Please, Cole—"
He started to move, slowly at first, deep and steady, watching her respond to every thrust. Her hands gripped his shoulders, her body rising to meet his, soft sounds escaping her that drove him wild.
"That's it," he murmured against her neck. ""God, I love when you moan for me."
He shifted his angle and she gasped, her nails digging into his back. "Right there—"
"Here?" He did it again and she moaned, her head falling back. "Tell me how it feels."
"So good—you feel so good—"
His hand slid between them, finding where they were joined, and when he touched her, her whole body tensed.
"Cole—I'm close—"
"Look at me." His voice was commanding but gentle, and her eyes snapped to his. "I want to see you. Want to watch you fall apart."
He thrust harder, deeper, his fingers working in rhythm, and watched her come undone beneath him—her eyes going wide, her mouth falling open in a silent cry before his name tore from her throat. She pulsed around him, and the feeling of it, the sight of her lost in pleasure, pushed him over the edge.
He buried himself deep with a groan, his control shattering as he came, her name broken on his lips.
They collapsed together, both shaking, gasping for air. Cole managed to roll to his side, pulling her with him, unwilling to let go.
As Ellie curled into him, her hand on his chest feeling his racing heart, Cole realized with absolute clarity that he was in trouble.
This wasn't just sex. This was choosing her, choosing this, choosing to risk everything.
And the terrifying part? He didn't want to take it back.
"That was—" Ellie started, her voice soft and satisfied.
"Yeah."
"We're doing that again."
He laughed breathlessly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Definitely."
Outside, the snow kept falling. Inside, Cole pulled her closer, already wanting her again, already dreading the moment he'd have to let go.
Inside, two people who'd spent years protecting themselves finally let their walls come down.
And for the first time in longer than he could remember, Cole felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
10
ELLIE
Ellie woke to gray morning light filtering through unfamiliar curtains and the realization that she was naked, tangled in sheets that smelled like Cole, and very thoroughly sore in the best possible way.
For a moment, she just lay there, trying to process what had happened.
She'd slept with Cole Hansen. Her patient. The grumpy hockey player who'd arrived a few weeks ago hating Christmas and small towns and probably her specifically. The man who was supposed to leave in a month.
