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He nodded, like he was going to go along with my words, but then he paused. “You know what I think?” He licked his lips and leveled me with a stare over the flickering candle. The whole world seemed to stop spinning as I waited for his words. “I think we’re both shit actors, Piper.”

My heart thudded so loudly that I bet he could hear it. It felt like he just threw down a challenge, and now he was waiting on me to take it. “I think you’re right,” I whispered.

“Thank God.” He leaned closer and his rough hand slid to the base of my head and his lips crushed down against mine, kissing me, making pure ecstasy flutter through my stomach.

My hand went to his cheek, into his hair, as I deepened the kiss. He groaned in pleasure and looped his hands under my thighs, roughly depositing me on his lap so that we were chest-to-chest.

Pleasure rocked through me, my body screaming finally , my soul chanting, You, I’ve only ever wanted you.

His mouth moved to my neck, making me gasp, making me want more. It was the perfect push and pull that shoved all reason right out of my head. I suddenly wanted closer, wanted more of his skin on mine.

But no .

I needed reason.

I pulled back, and his hands froze around my ribs. “This won’t change anything on the ice, right?” I asked breathlessly.

“No, baby,” he vowed, his hand tracing my hair line, his dazed eyes darting over my face, like he was trying to memorize the moment.

I nodded furiously as his rough hand wandered up my shirt. “Promise?” His fingers twisted, making me cry out in a mixture of pleasure and pain.

“I promise,” he rasped while laying me down. He eased back only to pull off his shirt, flexing his arm and shoulders. “It’s our time, baby,” he said against my lips.

“Finally,” I murmured.

“Finally, baby,” he echoed.

_________

The next morning, Patrick’s eyes bounced from our faces to our joined hands as we walked into the rink lobby.

“No,” he deadpanned, eyeing Kappy with suspicion. “Tell me you didn’t.”

I tried to pull my hand away, but Kappy tightened his grip. “Sorry, Patty Boy,” he said, sounding anything but sorry.

“How could you?” Patrick blanched. “I gave you three rules! Only three! And the first one wasn’t even for you!”

“I’m really sorry. I am,” he said, laughing.

Patrick’s eyebrows slammed down. “No, you’re really not! I can tell!” He looked at our hands again and shook his head. “I’m disgusted.”

Hans stopped pushing his mop to watch our interaction, a little smile dancing on his face.

“At least we’re really…gelling?” Kappy tried.

Patrick fake gagged. “Don’t tell me that.” He shook a finger at us. “Do not tell me that. ”

But practice that day reminded me that the world is always balancing itself. After the high from last night, my stomach dropped when a familiar pain started shocking up my right leg.

I did my best to push through it, but after completing our combination spin, which put consistent weight on my right calf, I couldn’t hide my grimace.

“ It’s hurting, isn’t it,” Kappy asked, watching me closely.

A knot lodged in my throat. I couldn’t lie to him, but I didn’t want to tell him either. Turns out, I didn’t have to. Cursing under his breath, he skated off to the boards.

“Patrick, she’s in pain, we need to stop for the day.”

Patrick eyed me warily. “How bad is it?”

“What?” Kappy snapped. “It doesn’t matter how bad. She’s in pain.” He shook his head at me. “I’m not doing this if it’s hurting you.”

“ Stopping would be hurting me,” I said quietly.

“Shouldn’t she see a doctor?” he asked Patrick.

Patrick rubbed his jaw in thought.

“They’ll just tell me what I already know,” I said softly.

“Which is?” I asked impatiently.

“That I need to stop skating or I’ll end up having to get another surgery.”

He blanched. “Fuck, Piper. No, we’re not doing this.”

“Please,” I begged, skating right up to him. “We didn’t work this hard to turn back. Please.” I laid my forehead on his chest and could feel his heart beating wildly. “I’m okay, don’t worry,” I tried to soothe.

His gloved hand gently brushed down my hair. “Okay, fine.” He blew out a frustrated breath.

“Thank you,” I breathed out.

“But you’re taking it easy as much as possible, got it? Or I quit.”

“Okay.” I nodded hurriedly.

“I’m serious.” His throat bobbed with a swallow. “You have to play by my rules.”

Taking his hand, I smoothed backwards, dragging him back out to center ice with a grin.

That day, after unlacing our skates, he slung a Whalers hat over his hair and knelt in front of me.

“What are you doing?”

He eyed me over his shoulder. “Piggyback ride. ”

“What? No.” I laughed, but my heart warmed a little over how much he cared. “I’m fine.”

He cocked a skeptical eyebrow. “My rules, Viper. This isn’t an offer, it’s an order.” He grinned. “Now c’mon.”

Rolling my eyes, I climbed onto his back and his strong hands looped under my thighs.

“I think you just like giving me piggyback rides,” I said sullenly, but my body relaxed against him.

He laughed. “You might be right,” he said, and I secretly cherished hearing the smile in his voice.