Page 40 of Don’t Leave (Stay #2)

CASSIDY

“ S lap it to me!”

I wind up and hit the puck to Cole who flies across the ice.

The rubber disk lands right on the end of his stick as he races with it to the goal and flicks it in the goal.

We’ve been here for about thirty minutes, and it feels just like it used to.

I love spending time with Cole on the ice and over the last month, I’ve missed it.

Missed him.

As difficult as it was talking with Luke yesterday, I’m so glad I cleared the air. Even if nothing changes with Cole, I know that remaining friends with Luke is what’s best for both of us.

After I thought about it, I decided that maybe Cole was right, and I was allowing what happened last year skew my feelings for Luke. I didn’t want to believe that was a possibility but when I tried to separate my emotions for him, I wasn’t able to do it.

They were too deeply intertwined.

“Water break?”

I nod as we skate to our water bottles on the bench. After removing our gloves, we toss them onto the long stretch of wood before guzzling down our drinks.

When I finally come up for air, the words slip from my mouth before I can stop them. “I’ve really missed spending time on the ice with you.” Everything inside me freezes, hoping that I haven’t ruined the moment.

Heat fills my face as one heartbeat passes and then another.

Just as I open my mouth to backtrack, a smile curves his lips. “Me, too.”

Relief ruses through every cell of my body as my muscles loosen. I realize that if I’m going to be honest and tell him how I feel, it needs to be now before I lose my nerve.

“What I’ve missed most of all is our relationship.” Those nine little words are the most difficult ones I’ve ever had to say. As soon as they escape from my mouth, I want to snatch them out of the air.

I’ve never been good at putting myself out there.

But Cole is worth it.

He’s worth the risk of rejection.

His gaze searches mine as the silence stretches between us.

When he fails to respond, air gets clogged in my throat, making it impossible to breathe.

My heart pounds harshly against my ribcage.

That’s the moment I wonder if maybe too much has happened, too much time has passed, and it really is too late for us.

Is it possible that I let the best guy I’ve ever known slip through my fingers?

My flight response kicks in, telling me to flee before I embarrass myself any further.

As I retreat a step, he reaches out and takes hold of my hand. It’s the cool feel of his skin sliding over mine that jolts me into remembering how I’d placed my hand over Luke’s in the same manner, wanting to let him down as gently as possible.

My gut twists with nerves until it feels like I might throw up.

“Cassidy…”

Oh god, this is bad.

Only now do I realize that he doesn’t feel the same way. He’s moved on while I’m still in love with him. He must think I’m so pathetic.

Is there anything worse than giving your heart to someone who no longer wants it?

“I’m sorry,” I gasp on a strangled breath. Unable to stay here, I stumble back another step. I need to get out of here. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Before I can formulate an exit strategy, he grabs my arm and pulls me toward him. For a fraction of a moment, my mind tumbles back to the night we met. Only this time, my body doesn’t seize up the same way it did in August, because I know Cole would never do anything to hurt me.

“Cassidy, wait! Just give me a second to catch up.” The patient smile that plays around the corners of his lips only intensifies the growing ache in my heart.

Instead of running away, I straighten my shoulders and force out the rest through stiff lips. Maybe it is too late for us, but I want him to know exactly how I feel.

I’ve come too far not to finish it.

“I love you and I’m sorry if I made you feel like I wanted someone else more than I wanted you.

I don’t. I couldn’t possibly. You were right about my feelings getting tangled up for Luke because of what happened.

You’re the only guy I’ve ever wanted, and I really hate myself for screwing up our relationship. ”

There.

Done.

Just as I open my mouth to plead my case and tell him why I deserve a second chance, he yanks me to him. My eyes widen as his lips crash onto mine.

And then I’m lost in the taste and feel of him.

Just like I always am.

It’s been so long, and I’ve missed him—and this—so much.

He draws away enough to whisper, “Haven’t you realized yet that I’m still in love with you?” His lips stroke over mine before he murmurs, “It was taking everything I had inside to keep my distance.”

My head spins. I’d really thought I lost him. That I squandered the possibility of an us.

“I’m so sorry for pushing you away,” I whisper.

He nods as uncertainty flickers in his eyes. “Are you absolutely certain about your feelings for Luke?” There’s a pause as his voice dips. “I can’t go through that again, Cassidy. I love you but I need to know there’s nothing going on between the two of you.”

“I’m positive. We’re nothing more than friends.” My teeth sink into my lower lip as a thought occurs to me. “Are you all right with that?”

As much as I like Luke and as connected as I feel to him, I realize that it’s nothing compared to my feelings for Cole. I love him more than anything. The enormity of those feelings is so much deeper than what I could possibly feel for Luke. There’s no way to repay him for what he did for me.

But it can’t be with my heart.

Not when it belongs to someone else.

“As long as I’m the one you want, the one you love, then I trust you.”

My fingers curl into the collar of his warmup jacket before tugging him closer so that my arms can wind around his neck. I’ve missed the feel of him so much.

“It’s always been you.” My conversation with Jackie tumbles through my head and I add, “And I won’t mess that up again.”

He untangles my arms from around his neck before stepping away and locking his fingers around my wrist, pulling me toward the heavy metal door that leads off the ice.

“Where are we going?”

His heated gaze collides with mine, but he doesn’t stop moving. “To my place.”

A shiver of anticipation dances down my spine at the thought of being alone with him.

“And FYI—you’ll be there for a while,” he adds as if I might argue.

My thighs clench as need crashes through me.

“Can you really wait that long?” It’ll be at least twenty minutes.

He grinds to an abrupt halt before tugging me into his arms again.

“The real question is can you?”

Well…the rink is closed to the public for another thirty minutes.

“I don’t know,” I whisper as his mouth strokes over mine. “I really want you.”

The tip of his tongue dances across my lips before slipping inside to mingle with my own. A soft groan fills the silent rink.

I’m pretty sure it came from me.

How many weeks has it been since I’ve felt the slide of his cock deep inside my body?

Way too long.

“We can go in the office,” he offers.

It’s tempting.

So tempting.

But a quickie isn’t what I need right now.

I shake my head. “Once I get you naked, you aren’t going to be putting your clothes on for a while. Let’s head back to your house.”

A wicked gleam ignites in his eyes. “I like the way you think, baby. Let’s go.”

And then he’s once again dragging me off the ice.

We make quick work of shedding our skates and hockey gear before shoving it all into our bags. With my hand held securely in his, we sprint out of the rink. The ride to his place takes ten minutes and I can’t keep my hands off him.

By the time he parks his Mustang in front of the Victorian he shares with five other guys from the hockey team, I want to tear the clothes from his body.

I think he must feel the same way since his fingers are already slipping beneath my shirt as we race up the porch stairs before barging through the front door.

The thick wood bursts open, reverberating on its hinges before Cole slams it shut.

And then we’re running up the staircase.

We’re both laughing so hard as our fingers grasp for one another.

“Hey.” Alex lumbers out of the living room wearing a pair of boxers. “I’m glad you’re?—”

“Not now,” Cole yells over his shoulder as he leads me to the second floor. “And probably not for a while. Anyone bothers us, they’re getting their ass kicked. Got it?”

“Yeah, man. I got it.”

Even though I don’t turn around to see his expression, I can hear the humor that simmers in Alex’s deep voice. He knows exactly what’s about to happen.

And you know what?

I don’t care at all.

Right now, all I can think about is the feel of Cole’s hands drifting over me and his muscular body settling on top of mine.

Once we’re inside his room, he twists the lock and pounces, catching me around the waist and presses me to him. When his hands settle on my ass, he hoists me up so that my legs can wrap around his waist. A growl rumbles up from his chest as I grind myself against him.

His lips crash onto mine and there is nothing gentle about how this kiss unfolds.

“Too much clothing,” I gasp.

“Agreed.”

His hands leave my bottom as I drop to the floor.

My palms stroke over the solid planes of his chest before my fingers grip the hem of his T-shirt and I whip it over his head, tossing it over my shoulder.

In the blink of an eye, my shirt also disappears.

He removes my bra as I work the button and fly of his jeans.

Even though his erection is still covered by his boxers, it springs forward.

My thighs clench as I stroke my fingers over the hot length.

I’ve missed this so much.

Impatiently, he pushes the thick denim material down his hips and thighs before kicking it away. His hands settle on the elastic band at my waist and before I can suck in a breath, the leggings are yanked down, pulled away, and tossed aside.