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“I had a great teacher,” I tell her with a wink and I settle on the chair next to her at the table.

“What do you want to learn next?”

I tilt my head to the side and raise an eyebrow as a smirk pulls on my lips. “Are you offering to teach me how to cook something else?”

“Did you have something else in mind that you’d rather I teach you?”

Holy shit.

My heart skips a beat in my chest, the same moment that blood rushes between my legs. “Teacher’s choice.” My cock twitches. “You continue to surprise me, Trouble, so please, don’t stop now.”

Andi sinks deeper into her seat, both of her brows drawing inward. “Hm.” She purses her lips.

“What’s wrong?”

She lifts one shoulder in a noncommittal shrug. “If I had to guess, I’d say you’ve probably already been taught everything you could possibly need to know.”

“That’s not true,” I tell her, my tongue darting out to wet my lips. Leaning forward, I grab the legs of her chair and abruptly drag it across the patio until it’s almost flush against my chair. “There’s never been any opportunity to learn with anyone else,” I admit, my voice low as I peer up at her, slowly sitting back upright. “I don’t do this kind of stuff, Andi.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“Let people in.” I swallow roughly, my chest constricting. “I don’t let others occupy my space or my time or my fucking thoughts like you do.” I let out a breath. “I don’t know what I’m doing here with you, but I know I don’t want to fuck it up.”

Her eyes widen slightly before they drift back and forth between mine, slowly searching. “There’s nothing here to fuck up.”

My legs are spread wide with hers tucked in between. The sunset is beginning to fade in the distance, but the glow of the light behind her illuminates the perimeter of her head, creating a halo effect. “No?” I question, trailing my fingers along her bare thighs. She inhales sharply, her pupils dilating. I stop them just as I reach the bottom hem of her shorts. “Nothing doesn’t mean what it used to, does it?”

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and bites down as she shakes her head. “It’s become quite a contradicting word.”

“So, tell me, Trouble.” I pause, lifting a hand up to cup the side of her face. I don’t do relationships or attachments, but it feels like there’s an invisible thread that has us tethered to one another. There’s a constant tug, always pulling me closer and closer to her. “What am I supposed to do here? This is uncharted territory for me and I need some guidance.”

Andi shifts closer, her legs press against mine as she tips her head back. The light from the setting sun shifts across her eyes, illuminating the gold and green tints that swirl together. “I think you’re supposed to kiss me.”

Time is momentarily suspended as my fingers drift across her skin. Her hair is soft like silk. It slips between my fingertips as I plunge them into her locks, cradling the back of her head. A gentle breath escapes her, her neck craning, chin tipping up. I inch closer, watching the way the colors shimmer in her eyes.

“I think I’m supposed to, too,” I tell her, my voice hoarse and thick with lust. Closing the distance between us, I lean toward her. The smell of her perfume invades my senses and I take the time to inhale her deeply as her eyelids flutter shut. Her long, black lashes brush against the tops of her cheeks.

My eyelids fall shut just as my mouth brushes hers. Time ceases to exist and our surroundings fade into the background as my lips slowly move against hers. It’s soft and gentle, sensual,yet tranquil. A serenity washes over me, as if sunlight is seeping into my pores, filtering directly into my soul.

Andi’s lips begin to move with mine, melting into me as she kisses me back with a tenderness that has my toes curling. She lifts her hands to fist the front of my shirt, drawing me in closer to deepen the kiss. My tongue sweeps along the seam of her lips, urging her to let me in. There’s no hesitation from her. She parts her lips and her tongue meets mine.

Our mouths melt together, our tongues tangle together in a slow dance. I breathe her in, drawing her deep into my lungs, into my heart, and into my soul. Something about Andalina Rossi just feels right.

She feels like home, like a place I’m certain I never want to leave.

We break apart, coming up for air as both of our lungs scream for oxygen. I suck in a deep breath as my eyes open and adjust to the dimming light as I study every inch of her face. Her hands fall away from my shirt and reach for my waist instead. My hand slowly moves away from her neck to trail down her arm before resting on her forearm.

My eyelids flutter shut and I lean forward to rest my forehead against hers. “What am I going to do with you, Trouble?” My voice trails off.

Keep you—that’s what I should do.

I should keep her and Matteo here with me until the end of time.

I absorb the moment, the way she feels this close to me. The way she smells, the way she sounds. I want every last piece of her tucked away in my brain for safe keeping, because at the end of the day, I know I can never give her what she deserves.

Andi deserves a man who will be there for her through every moment and that man isn’t me. Hockey was my first love and it’s what will always come first. Relationships always have a way offorcing you to choose and when that time comes, I know I will be nothing but selfish.

I’ll want the three of them to myself—Andi, Matteo, and the sport I’ve devoted my entire life to—and I’m not so sure that’s even a possibility.