Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Sure,” she said, drawing the sound out through her teeth. “What the hell do we do now?”
I glanced around before settling my eyes on her.
“I guess we just hang out. I think I know a little place,” I told her before taking her hand and leading her up the stairs. I whisked her through the building until I found one of the lounges near the top of the stadium. There was a bar, plush couches, and a hell of a view of the rink.
“Must be nice to be rich enough to afford this,” Leah murmured to herself as she admired the tidy, lavish area.
I didn’t reply. I was sure she had heard that my family was well-off, but I didn’t want her to think of me as some bratty rich kid or something who always sat in lounges like this during games. It wasn’t my choice. I would’ve been happy in the nosebleed seats of the stadium with my friends, but my family insisted we experience things in style.
Leah sat down on a cream-colored, boxy-shaped couch before working off her skates, showing off pink fuzzy socks that made me chuckle.
“Nice socks,” I told her as I sat down next to her, taking off my own skates.
Leah curled her legs up under her to hide them, giving me a pointed look.
“Sorry I assumed that girl was your girlfriend. You just seemed close,” she said.
I shook my head dismissively. Nicole ambushed me on the way to the rink and wouldn’t leave me alone until I agreed to go to another party with her that night. Like with parents, sometimes it was easier just to roll with things.
“Nah, I couldn’t date her. I don’t want to,” I replied.
Leah cocked her head at me in a curious manner.
“Couldn’t?” she asked.
I laughed a little sheepishly, not meaning to head into this territory.
“My parents are pretty particular about who they want me to be with. They’re particular about everything I do with my life,” I explained to her.
“I heard they’re important to the school,” Leah said.
“They’re alumni. Funding alumni,” I told her. “They’re definitely people who are hard to say no to.”
Leah frowned.
“Yeah, but it’s your life. You should be with who you want,” she said.
I agreed, but it just wasn’t that easy.
“Your parents aren’t pains in your ass?” I asked.
Leah shrugged.
“My dad isn’t really around. It’s just been me, my mom, and my sister,” she replied. “My mom worked a lot, so she trusted me and my sister to make the right decisions for ourselves.”
Trust. Maybe that was what my parents didn’t see in me.
“That sounds nice. Obviously, you made such good choices to end up here and as captain,” I pointed out.
“It wasn’t easy,” Leah said with a wry smile. “No one in my hometown believes in me. They don’t think a girl can succeed at professional ice hockey.”
“Is it a small place?” I asked.
Leah nodded.
“Tiny,” she said.
I shrugged.
“They’re just jealous you found a way out,” I told her. She didn’t need to let all of those jealous voices fill her head. She knew what she wanted, and honestly, that was sexy in a way. Her passion and determination were a big part of her, and I admired those things about her.
“And now, I’m stuck with the captain of the men’s team. I certainly made it,” Leah laughed.
I smirked and put my arm out across the top of the couch behind her head.
“It’s not too bad, right?” I replied as I leaned closer to her, enjoying the sound of her laugh and the warmth I could feel radiating off her body.
“I shouldn’t say yes,” Leah said, her eyes sweeping over me.
She was right. I shouldn’t be leaning toward her, and she shouldn’t be looking at my lips like she was dying to kiss me. But what the hell, right? I wanted her and that sharp tongue of hers, and she couldn’t deny the fact that there was desire mixed in with her agitation toward me.
It was time to stop lying to ourselves.
I cupped the back of her neck as I moved closer to her, our noses brushing.
“Then, tell me to stop,” I replied, our lips lingering only an inch apart.
She didn’t say a word, but something close to a whimper sounded from her.
I surged forward and crashed my lips against hers, tangling my fingers in her hair as she fisted my shirt. She tasted sweet and warm as expected. Intoxicating.
Leah pulled me even closer by my shirt, our motions turning desperate, frantic. She parted her lips against mine, and I felt the lightest dash of tongue that made my head spin. All hesitance was thrown out the window.
When I felt her try to push me back so that she could climb on top of me, I smiled into the kiss and pushed back, pinning her down on her back as I crawled above her.