Page 48 of Hot Shot
Realistically, it isn’t.
The team could decide to send me down for conditioning or development. They did it with another player who is in his second season with the NHL and has scored a dozen goals. Granted, he wasn’t getting the ice time I am, but if it happened to him, it could happen to me.
I don’t know why, but something about standing here, in my kitchen with Madison, made me feel like I could tell her about it.
Now I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I didn’t realize how much it was stressing me out.
Not that talking about it suddenly means it’s not still a source of anxiety, but it feels good telling someone.
“Yeah,” she says.
“You’ve seen the kitchen and living room. I’ll show you the rest.” I lead her around the apartment, pointing out my bedroom, the guest room, which I haven’t used, and the bathrooms. I end the tour in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, my favorite part of this place.
I love drinking my coffee every morning and watching all the people hurrying down the street heading to work in the office buildings downtown. I enjoy watching all the cars and buses going by on the streets below.
My favorite time of day to stand at the windows, though, is late at night when the city is asleep. A calm blankets the usual noise. It’s peaceful. If I crane my neck just right, I can see the lakes that surround downtown. Sometimes I can even see a boat or Jet Ski out on the water.
“This view is magnificent.” Madison stares out the window.
“It sure is.” Although the view I’m talking about isn’t the same one that she is. It’s her I’m looking at and her beauty I’m admiring.
She’s gorgeous in her tight, fitted jeans that hug her ass, a maroon shirt that somehow makes her eyes seem brighter, and with her curly hair loose along her shoulders, mussed from being in a bun while we were ice skating.
As if she feels my gaze on her, she peers at me over her shoulder, smiling shyly.
I want to kiss her so badly.
As if she hears my thoughts, her tongue peeks out and wets her lips. She glances down at my lips for a second before lifting her gaze back to mine.
Stepping closer, I spin her gently so we’re chest to chest. I lean in closer until her exhales become my inhales. My heart races, pounding in my ears.
Her breath comes in shaky pants. A blush spreads along her face and down her neck.
“Madison.” I ghost my fingers along her cheek, reaching to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear before dropping my hand back to my side.
“Hunter.” My name is a plea on her lips.
I rest my forehead against hers, inhaling a shaky breath. “We’re friends.”
It’s more of a reminder to myself than to her before I cross a line I shouldn’t. Even though I very much want to.
“Fuck that,” she whispers before she crashes her lips to mine.
My shock lasts a heartbeat before I bring one of my hands up to tangle in her hair and wrap the other one around her waist, pulling her closer. I feel her tongue against my lips, and with a groan, I open for her. She tastes like cake and sugar with a hint of lime and salt.
Fuck me.
She sinks her fingers into my scalp, eliciting a growl from me. My dick hardens. I shift slightly, not wanting to startle her with how aroused I am since who the hell knows what we’re doing here, but I don’t get a chance as Madison rubs against me, moaning into my mouth. I take over the kiss, guiding her head where I want it, darting my tongue into her mouth. I can’t get enough of her.She’s addicting.
“Madison,” I say, pulling back from her, my heart hammering in my chest.
“Yes.” She grins up at me, her lips swollen from our kisses.
“You’re gorgeous.”
She opens her mouth to say something but we’re interrupted by her phone ringing.Damn it.
I reluctantly let her go and take a seat on the couch. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my urge to march into the other room where she’s on the phone, toss her over my shoulder, and take her to my bedroom.
