Page 29 of Knot Your Pucking Mate
“Hey! Don’t actually push me!” She gives me a playful shove on the arm as I lead her down the hall.
“I’m not making any promises, Dee.”
Her answering growl is anything but threatening, causing an unexpected snort to escape me.
Once we’re both ready, we meet beside the cold plunge pool.
Mandy poses a striking figure, petite and thin with curves in all the right places. My forest rain scent is a little stronger than before as my craving for her grows.
“The best approach is to commit,” I say, gesturing to the small pool in front of us. It’s set in the floor, large enough for the two of us and deep enough that you can step right in, though not deep enough to dive. “Don’t climb in slowly; that’s the kind of thing that will lead you to not completing it. This is a beginner’s temperature. Not as cold as an ice bath, but you’ll definitely still feel it.”
“Great,” she mutters, wrapping her arms around herself as if already protecting herself from the cold.
“I promise you, Dee. You’ll feel great afterward. Fresh and energized. Do you trust me?”
The weight of those words hangs between us, and I instantly regret asking them. What reason does she have to trust me? I haven’t even begun to make things up to her. What happened between us wasn’t entirely my fault, but the foundation of our relationship is fragile because of it.
Before I can wave it off or take back the questions, she answers, her voice tinged slightly with surprise.
“I do. I mean, I want to.”
If I were in a cartoon, my heart would do that thing where it physically beats out of my chest. My pulse races, and a rush of emotions overcomes me.
Mandy is still the girl I knew, and so much more than I deserve.
“Let’s do it then,” I say, my voice a little shaky as I hold out my hand.
She takes it, pulling in a deep breath at the same time, bracing herself.
“On the count of three. One… Two… Three.”
She doesn’t hesitate like I thought she might, but instead steps forward with purpose at the same time as I do.
We pin drop into the cold water, and she lets go of my hand as we plunge beneath the surface. It only takes a little kick to break the surface again, and she’s right behind me, her soft pink hair sticking to her face in a mess of sopping curls. Pink colors her cheeks, and her eyes are bright as we tread water.
“Holy fudge balls!” she exclaims as she catches her breath. “It’s fucking cold in here.”
Something overtakes me, and I don’t take a moment to think; I just act. I reach for Mandy, tugging her towards me into the water and pulling her close against me. She instinctively wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist as I work to keep us both afloat.
A purr sounds deep in my chest as she looks up at me, surprise shining in her eyes. Briefly, Mandy’s gaze drops to my lips, her eyes hungry when they return to mine. I take that as permission, and before I overthink it, I press my lips to hers.
She freezes for a moment, her body stiffening in surprise before she relaxes against me, returning my kiss.
Her touch, her kiss, the way her body presses against mine are all familiar and comforting. It’s what I’ve been craving for the last ten years. The only thing other than hockey that I’ve ever wanted.
And to have her here in my arms feels like the world has righted on its axis.
I’m never going to let her go again.
Chapter Seventeen
Mandy
The surrounding stands fill fast as the start time for the game approaches quickly. Chase had organized for me to have a front-row seat right in front of the glass. According to him, it’s the closest I’ll come to being on the ice with them and witnessing the speed and intensity of the game while they run their plays.
I’m not sure I’ll even recognize when they’re running a play, and I feel a little out of place. It seems like the most diehard fans are seated down here. The air is a mix of scents from all the excited, hyped-up alphas ready to watch their teams take the ice. It’s overwhelming, but I promised myself I’d stick it out for Chase. He was excited to be a part of expanding my hockey knowledge, and I can’t bring myself to take that away from him.
Plus, he insisted I wear one of his spare jerseys, and his scent lingers on it enough that I feel surrounded in the comfort of him. Lifting the fabric, I bring it to my nose and inhale deeply, letting Chase’s forest rain scent wash over me and calm my nerves.
