Page 11 of Falling for the Felid
“Can you skate?” I ask as we continue toward the rink. He doesn’t answer, and I glance over at him. “Ari?”
The second his name touches my lips, I regret it. I don’t say it out loud if I can avoid it, and it tastes strange and forbidden.
And delicious.
My hormones, which have been mostly in check and, more importantly, focused on rage all day, slam my libido to life. I really hope Ari doesn’t glance down, because my dick is so hard, there’s a possibility it’s going to burst through my joggers.
What iswrongwith me? It’s just his fucking name!
“No,” he says, and for a split second I think he’s telling me nothing’s ever going to happen between us. Which Iknow, obviously, and how fucking egotistical is he to assume I even want that? It’s just a boner, right?
Except he’s not talking about that at all, and he hasn’t even noticed my hard-on (which doesn’t offend me, even if my hormones think it should). He’s answering my question: No, he can’t skate.
“You should learn,” I say, my voice a little hoarse. There’s no actual reason why he should learn to skate, but I need a second to pull myself together.
“Why?”
I shrug. “Some of the stuff Erik was talking about doing for this outreach program will take place on the ice. If you’re trying to encourage people to get involved with hockey, shouldn’t you lead by example?”
He stiffens so fast, I look around for danger. “I’veneverclaimed to be the leader.” The cold vehemence in his tone has my steps faltering.
“Uh… sure. I mean, I wasn’t saying… I just meant that seeing you take part in the activities you’re promoting would set the tone.” I’ve obviously hit a nerve, and part of me wants to try to do it again, but I’m still trying to be on my best behavior. Even if my cock currently is leading the way to the rink. Hopefully the colder air there will settle things down.
And it does. I stare out across the ice, something inside me unclenching the way it always does when I’m here.
“This is it?”
Annnnd there it goes, clenching right back up again.
“What were you expecting?” I snap.
“No, I wasn’t… I thought there would be more seating.”
Oh. I look up at what passes for the stands. “We don’t get a lot of spectators here. This is only our practice facility. Mostpeople who watch us here are working—press, staff, occasionally an open practice or charitable event or something like that.”
Ari’s frowning. “Oh.”
Dread creeps over me. Lurlene said he didn’t know anything about hockey, but… “Have you ever watched a hockey game? Either our league or the human one?”
For a long moment, he says nothing. Then, “No.”
“Okay, so… what do you know about the sport?”
He shrugs. “You skate around on the ice and use sticks to move the ball.”
My breath stalls in my chest. “That’s… uh.” I turn back to gaze at the ice, unseeing, my brain racing. This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought.
“Is that wrong?”
I look over at his ridiculously attractive face and wish he had an even slightly better personality. “I’ve got good news and bad news.”
“Is the bad news that I’m wrong?”
“The good news,” I continue, ignoring his question, “is that you got part of that right. The bad news,” I grimace, “is that we’re going to be spending a lot of time together until you understand this game.”
CHAPTER SIX
Ari
