head. “Because I’m scared you’re going to walk away, and I’m going to get hurt.” His voice is so quiet. So unsure, yet so set at the same time.
“Baby …” I lean toward him, but my stupid seatbelt is still fastened. “Shit.”
I quickly unbuckle it and then I’m in his space.
His eyes widen, but when I cup his cheek, he leans into my hand.
“I never expected you,” I start. “I never expected that my brother asking me to look out for you would be anything more than me checking in on you every once in a while. I definitely didn’t expect to fall for you or think I’d ask my agent to find me a team on the East Coast so I could be close to you. I know it won’t be easy, and yes, it’ll be an adjustment, but I don’t ever want you to think I’m giving something up or will miss out because of you. You’re not only my boyfriend.”
He’s so much more. A lot more than I can put into words.
“I’m not?” He blinks up at me.
I shake my head. “You’re as much a part of my future as hockey is.”
“A-are you sure? Because part of me wonders if you should be psychoanalyzed.”
I burst out laughing. “Maybe I should. But that’s not going to change the fact I’ve fallen for you. I’ve fallen harder than any hit I’ve taken on the ice.”
“Oh, so you have a concussion. That would explain so much. Why you think my awkwardness is cute. And why—”
I cut off the self-deprecation with a kiss that’s forceful and promising. One I hope he can feel in his numb toes because we’ve been sitting in the car for a while with the heat off, and it’s becoming an ice box.
But when he kisses me back, I don’t care about frostbite or hypothermia.
That is until my dick starts to shrivel up from the cold.
“No more assumptions,” I say against his lips.
“Okay, I’ll try. It’s sort of my default to put meaning to things though, so I might need some help remembering.”
“Whenever you start to doubt, just remember I’m crazy about you.”
“Okay.”
“Let me take you inside and show you,” I whisper.
“Show me what?”
“How much I lo … how much …” Shit, why can’t I say the words? Granted, they’re words I’ve never said to anyone else outside my family, but they’re dancing on the tip of my tongue. They want to come out, but something’s holding them back. “How much I want you.”
Damn it.
He nods.
We get out of the car, and he moves toward the trunk.
“We’ll get your bags later.” I grab his upper arm and push him toward the front door.
Once we’re through the snow and on the porch, I pull him against me and press my lips to his.
He wraps his arms around my neck, and we blindly fumble our way inside, kissing and groping.
“Hey, how was Wiscon—” My brother’s voice cuts off. “Ooh, look at that. I’m gonna go walk the dog.”
I wave him off but then his words register. I force my lips away from Zach’s but don’t let him go. “We don’t have a dog.”
“Fine. I’m getting out of the house so I don’t have to watch or listen to”—he gestures to us—“that. Bye.”
Zach and I run up the stairs before Seth even has his coat and shoes on.
We strip out of our thick coats and jackets, shed our shoes and socks, and then I’m pushing Zach down on his back and covering his smaller frame with mine.
I lean up on my elbow as I snake my hand under his shirt.
“Fuck, you’re cold,” he complains.
“Keep me warm.” I laugh.
“No way.” Zach tries to shove me off him, but like that’s ever gonna work.
Then he looks up at me with a pleading expression, and I know I’m going to give in.
I sigh and roll onto my back.
He straddles my waist and hovers above me. Can’t say I’m complaining.
His icy fingers go to my abs, and I try to hold in my wince. Okay, now I’ll complain.
“Payback.”
“Nope,” I grit out. “I can totally handle it.”
Fuck, how long does it take for hands to warm?
I try not to shiver as he moves his hands over my chest. “Okay, fine, you win. It’s too cold. Let’s get under the covers and warm up. Then you can touch my dick.”
“Oh, can I? You’re the nicest boyfriend ever.”
“My dick is a privilege not a right.”
Zach laughs. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But you love it.”
“I do. I love … everything about