Page 71 of Ice Queen

“Are you okay?” she asks hesitantly. “Maggie was whining at my door, and when I opened it to let her out, I heard you yelling.”

I run a hand through my hair, my eyes falling to the floor for a second, trying to piece together how I even begin to explain this to her. “I’m sorry I woke you up… And for choking you.”

My eyes lift, and I just now realize she’s wearing nothing but boy shorts and a sports bra. “I um…” I stammer. She’s stunning, her shoulders are toned, her stomach houses the most lickable obliques, and her legs…

What. The. Hell.

My heart clenches violently as I point to the tattoo on her leg. “What is that?” My eyes narrow, and I find myself leaning forward to get a better look at the four dot-looking things.

She looks down, her hand brushing over the tattoo that decorates the side of her thigh. “They’re stars. I got one for each of the big moments in my life. Hoping one day they’d make a pretty cool constellation.” She chuckles, completely oblivious to my internal meltdown. “If not, they remind me of all I’ve overcome.”

My mouth goes dry. Stars. Bloody freaking stars. I look to the sky, unsure whether the universe is playing a trick on me, or if this is the sign I needed to stop pretending I’m not infatuated with this woman.

“Are you okay?” She steps into me, wrapping her hands around my wrists where they hang at my sides. “Do you need anything?”

A complete wipe of my brain would be nice.

“I usually don’t go back to sleep after I have one of these. Do you want to watch a movie with me?”

She bites down on her lip, nodding after a second. “Did you eat? I made enough ramen for a couple of days. Apparently, I didn’t check the serving size first.”

I let out a chuckle, of course she didn’t. “Sounds great, let me put some clothes on.”

“You don’t have to.” Her eyes fly wide. “I mean…” She covers her face with her hands. “I’m just gonna go, meet you out there.” She runs from my room like her ass is on fire, and I’m left standing there smiling like an idiot. I don’t hate it.

Maggie sits next to me, her big brown eyes staring up at me like even she’s tired of me purposely closing myself off to the possibility of something more.

Letting out a chuckle, I whisper, “I’m trying, Chica.” Before planting a kiss on her head then disappear into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

I notice the bite mark on my arm, still red and angry, but for some reason, it makes me smile. I brush my fingers over it, feeling the divots of her teeth against my skin. I wonder if she likes to be bitten, we never did get around to her… preferences.

I walk back to my room, grab my phone, and snap a quick picture of it, just so I can laugh about it when I’m not with her. Pulling a shirt over my head, I pad to the living room where she’s putting the ramen into bowls while she mumbles something to herself.

Maggie lies by her feet, looking up at her like Kait’s the sun and she craves her warmth. You and me both, Maggie girl.

I stand back and take in the shorts and long pale blue t-shirt she had put on. My brows pull low over my eyes when I realize it’s a Hawks shirt, one I can guarantee Lettie gave her. I’m even more positive it’s Monroe’s because it hangs almost to the bottom of her knees. That just won’t do.

I run back to my room and grab my favorite navy blue Hawks long-sleeved shirt. It’s the softest material I’ve ever felt. The hawk sits in the middle of the back, but “Samuels” runs across the shoulder blades, and I’m suddenly desperate to see it on her.

“Arms up,” I say as I step up behind her.

She gasps, jumping slightly at the sound of my voice. “I’m going to need you to make some noise or something. It’s not natural that you can move so silently at your size.”

My tongue runs over my lip, before I briefly pull my lip ring into my mouth to keep from smiling. “Why’s that?”

“Because everything about you is ginormous. Yet you move in silence.”

I know she didn’t mean it like I took it, but damn if I don’t want to see her blush again. I lean in, putting my lips right next to her ear.

“You’re partially correct,” I mumble, loving the goosebumps that decorate her skin. “But I’m definitely not silent, Princesa.”

Her breath hitches, and I smile against her as I slowly stand back to full height. Her pupils are dilated, her chest rising and falling in deep pulls of breath. “Now, be a good girl, and take that damn shirt off.”

“W-what?”

“You’re wearing another man’s shirt in my house. Take it off.”

She looks down at her shirt before looking back up at me, brows furrowed. “Lettie gave this to me the other day. Cam spit up all over the shirt I had on.”