Page 58 of Rookie Moves

He shakes his head. “No. Although it has been more difficult than I anticipated in the social aspect, I wouldn’t change it.” His eyes dip from my eyes to my mouth before flicking back up again. His cheeks turn a soft pink, and I swear my heart stops beating when he adds, “How could I regret meeting you?”

I bite down on the inside of my cheek, my grin impossible to stop.

“I’ve got a confession to make,” I blurt out, grabbing another handful of popcorn.

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“I was so close to hitting on you the first time we met.”

His eyes widen in glee. “Really?”

“Yeah,” I laugh and glance down at the ice, where the Steelheads battle for the puck in the offensive zone as I throw some popcorn into my mouth. “I found out you were my teammate before I could put my foot in it, otherwise, it could have been awkward as hell.”

Colby moves closer and lowers his voice. “So you’re saying we could have been having sex this entire time?”

Before I can respond, he pinches the soft skin on my side, and I yelp in my seat. Popcorn spills onto the floor, and I curse at my lost loot.

“Hey, knock that off.” I throw the remainder of the popcorn in my hand into my mouth and rub over the sore spot as he laughs.

The game ends with a win for Vancouver, and we blend into the crowd as we leave the arena. The walk back to the hotel doesn’t take long, and when we step into the empty elevator, we stand against opposite walls and just stare at each other.

I meant what I said earlier about not bringing him here with the expectation for sex. It was a last-minute decision I made when I woke up and figured we had a little over twenty-four hours with no practice, no classes—aside from the one Colby had before I picked him up—and I knew tonight would be the perfect opportunity. If he was ready for it.

The silence between us isn’t awkward. If anything, it becomes more heated with the promise that the second the door closes behind us in the room, all guards are coming down.

The elevator doors open, and I lead Colby down the hallway to our room, key card already in hand. My palms are starting to feel clammy, and I try to hide the slight tremble in my hand when I scan the key to open the door.

I follow him inside, noticing how, for once, Colby seems to be the relaxed one out of the two of us. He toes off his sneakers and drops his jacket into the chair before rounding the bed.

He glances over at me with an expectant look. “Are you just gonna stand there all night?”

I choke out a laugh. “What?”

“I thought we were gonna have sex?” His brows furrow in a frown. “Unless you’ve changed your mind?”

I’m shaking my head before he can finish speaking. “No, I haven’t changed my mind. Have you changed yours?”

“No.” He dips his head, chewing on the inside of his cheek, before he glances back at me. “How will we… Who will…” He swallows roughly. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to bottom today.”

A soft smile lifts my lips. “I wasn’t expecting you to, Colbs. I figured if we did have sex tonight, it would be you who tops.”

“Okay,” he says, sounding relieved.

Picking up my bag from the floor, I pull out my toiletry bag and point awkwardly at the bathroom.

“I just need to…” I let out a choked laugh. Fuck, why am I so nervous? Colby’s the virgin here, not me. “Do something. I won’t be long.”

Colby nods, settling on the bed and turning on the TV.

I head into the bathroom and quickly strip out of my clothes, then turn on the shower. I already cleaned out before we left earlier on the off chance Colby wanted to take things to the next step and fuck me tonight, but it doesn’t hurt to be extra prepared.

Plus, I’m sweating with nerves, and that’s not something I want Colby to see.

My shower is quick but thorough, and when I step out into the room again, I spot Colby sitting on the bed, stripped down to his boxer briefs. The only light in the room is coming from the TV, where there’s a West Coast game showing, and it emphasizes the grooves and valleys of his torso. I take a moment to appreciate him. The dusting of blond hair on his legs, the shape of his ankles.

Damn, who knew ankles could be sexy?

My eyes meet his, and a shiver runs down my spine at the heat burning in his stare as his eyes trail over my body, leaving a path of fire over every inch of my skin.