Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
My breath was locked in my chest, and I willed it to break free and give me at least one puff of oxygen before he reached me. When he was close enough, he cocked an eyebrow, a silent question to ask if I was ready.
The corner of my mouth tilted up in response, a coy and inviting smile.
I swore his gaze grew even hungrier at that.
The music faded. The distant chatter grew to a haunting hum of anticipation.
And without a word of greeting, he kissed me.
Aleks didn’t stop until his body was flush against mine, until we were all but crashing into each other in the middle of that party. One hand slid up and back into my hair, his thumb on my jaw strong and steady. His other hand was at my neck, splaying from where my pulse thrummed through the skin over my collarbone. It was as if he wanted to hold me to him and push me away in equal measure, like having one hand curling and the other flat would somehow help him keep control.
It was so fucking hot I wondered if I’d combust right then and there into a fiery blaze.
He groaned when his lips met mine, and I finally found my breath, inhaling him in as he held the kiss. I told myself it was something I’d practiced and planned for when I pressed up onto my toes and silently asked for more, when my arms wrapped around his neck and I raked my nails over his freshly cut hair.
The familiar feel of that hair against my palm had me reeling, memories of the past battling with the overwhelming sensation of now.
Aleks nipped at my bottom lip just enough to make me gasp and open, and he swept his tongue inside my mouth, striking a bolt of electricity between my legs. His hands were framing my face now, holding me to him, and then they slowly released, pulling me into him for a hug as he broke the kiss.
Again, I told myself it was an act when I chased that kiss as soon as he pulled away, not ready to let it end.
He chuckled a bit as he tucked me into him, his arms massive and protective and warm. He smelled like cinnamon and leather, and I inhaled the scent with a shaky, shallow breath.
“Hi,” he breathed, kissing my hair.
“Hi.”
“You look…” I felt him swallow, his voice low and gravelly.
“Beautiful? Ravishing? Like a million bucks?” I teased, tilting my head up until my chin was on his chest.
“Like a one-way ticket to jail for me if anyone tries to touch you tonight.”
My skin heated under his gaze, under that compliment, but I managed to roll my eyes. “Look at you, playing the part of possessive boyfriend so well.” I smiled. “You look alright, too. You know. For a hockey brute.”
He smirked at me with the jest. “Just alright, huh? Because I’m pretty sure I caught you drooling on my walk over here.”
“Only because I remembered Chef Jenn made her famous cannolis. Still counting down the seconds until I get one of those.”
Aleks bit his bottom lip on a nod before digging his fingers into my rib, just enough for me to squirm in his grip before he was holding me even tighter.
“Such a brat.”
“Don’t lie. It turns you on.”
“Oh, nothing gets me going quite like that mouth of yours.”
I hid my smile against his chest before peering up at him again, all jokes gone.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said.
And I meant it.
Pretending to be something we weren’t in front of a crowd full of people was oddly the calmest I’d felt all night.
His eyes flicked between mine, an unreadable expression washing over his face.
But before I could analyze it, someone clapped Aleks on the shoulder, cueing us to come back to reality.
Tornado
Aleks
Fuck, I was so gone for her.
The realization hit me as if it hadn’t always been a present fact in my life, as if my ignoring it for years could do anything to erase it. My brain seemed to chant a mocking duh as I reluctantly released my hold on Mia, separating enough for us to turn toward the person who’d interrupted us.
We pulled apart, but I still held her to me, one arm snaking around her waist and hooking at her hip. I smoothed my thumb over the bone there, wondering if the shiver that touch elicited from her was just for show.
“I think you’ve rendered our man here mannerless with that kiss,” Jaxson said, his smile bright as ever as he turned it from me to a breathless Mia. “Not that he had much in the way of manners before this. I’m Jaxson Brittain, one of the unfortunate souls who has to put up with your boyfriend’s attitude on the ice.”
He shook her hand politely before gesturing to Grace, who seemed a little starstruck where she was nestled into his arm.