Page 84 of Pucking Sweet

I stroke her cheek with my thumb, praying she’ll let me get this all out, praying she’ll hear me. “I’ve died and come back three times over, Poppy. I know with a clarity most others lack that sometimes you only get one shot in this life. You have to be ready to take it when it comes. You have to be ready to fucking cherish it.”

Her eyes trail from my chest scar back up to my face. “And what do you cherish?”

“Hockey,” I reply with a smile, knowing it’s not what she expected me to say. “It’s all I wanted. I gave it everything I had, and I rose right to the top.”

“You’ve had an amazing career,” she admits.

“But that’sallI have, Poppy: my career. Dad dying put that in harsh perspective for me. I was so focused on this one thing I wanted that I didn’t let myself dare want anything else.”

“What else do you want?”

Leaning down, I place a kiss on her forehead, whispering against her warm skin, “I wantyou. I have for years.”

She leans away on a gasp. “Years?”

I nod, clearly picturing the moment in my mind. “Since the first day I saw you sweep into the practice rink in DC. You were wearing a pale-yellow dress with your hair down.”

“You remember my dress?”

“How could I forget? You were like a ray of sunshine. I couldn’t look away. You stopped me in my tracks, Poppy. You still do. Every day. I want you so fucking bad. Since the moment you walked into my life two years ago, I think I’ve been chasing this dream of you. Hell, I chased it all the way to Jacksonville. You’re the reason I took this trade. I wanted to be where you are. I wanted to be ready to take my shot. All I need to know now is…do I have one?”

“Colton,” she whispers again, pronouncing the “T” in that way that makes me feral.

“Don’t,” I grit out, locking my elbows to keep her from inching closer.

She leans away, confused. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t say my name like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you already know how I taste.” I brush my thumb over her parted lips. “Like you might just give a damn about me.”

“Ido.” She holds my sides. “Colton, I care about you.”

“Then answer my question.”

“I…” She goes silent, not meeting my eye.

I tip her chin up again, determined to hear her truth. She has all of mine now. It’s only fair I get a little taste of hers, even if it breaks what’s left of my heart. “You what? Tell me.”

She holds my gaze, those blue eyes so bold and beautiful. “I want you too.”

28

Idon’t know who moved first, and I don’t care. All I know is that I’m kissing Colton Morrow, and I never want to stop. My arms are around his waist, and his hands cup my face, sweeping back to tangle in my braided hair. We tremble with need as we taste each other. I press my lips to his again and again, my hands splayed on the muscles of his back as he pins me against the wall of this busted elevator.

Call me cured because I don’t care if this car falls. I’m already free-falling right into Colton’s arms.

He groans against my mouth. “Can I touch you?”

“Yes.” I kiss his chin, his jaw. “Touch me.Please.”

He smells so good, all woodsy and spiced. And hefeelsgood. His beautiful brown skin is so warm to the touch. Everywhere my hand moves, he heats like a fire. It’s intoxicating. He’s literally burning for me, and I want to be a matching flame.

“I want you,” he says, peppering kisses down my neck. “God, Poppy. You fucking kill me.”

“Don’t say that.” I pull back, looking deep in his beautiful walnut-brown eyes. “This isn’t dying. This is living.”