“Where do you want me to start, Coach?” Teddy’s grin was knowing, the kind that made me feel like he could read my thoughts. My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it, already imagining who it was. Travis had been calling for two weeks, threatening to press charges over what happened at my house. I’d love to see him try.
“Just get on your feet and fucking skate, Valentine.” I pointed to the far end of the cones.
Without another word, Teddy moved, getting to his feet with that smooth, powerful grace I’d seen a thousand times before. Lifting the whistle from around my neck, I blew into it, the sharp sound cutting through the rink. Teddy took off, his stride not quite where it needed to be, the speed off just enough to make my teeth grind. When he hit the far end and turned, I blew the whistle again, sending him back to start.
He didn’t complain, didn’t stop. Even as sweat dripped into his eyes, even as I could see his legs shaking, he pushed forward. Every time I blew the whistle, he came back slower, but he kept going. “Pick it up,” I barked, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
He flipped me a single middle finger but still pushed himself faster, his determination evident.
I forgot myself for a second and actually laughed. Damn, it wasfunwatching him move. The way his body flowed, the power and precision—it was like watching a work of art in motion. A work of art I now knew intimately.
Teddy slid to a stop, narrowly avoiding crashing into the boards, and I skated toward him.
“Had enough?” I called.
He lifted his head, his breath coming in ragged bursts, cheeks puffing with effort. “No.”
“Then, go again.”
And he did.
“Tired yet?” I taunted as he pushed off the wall again. “Knee hurting?” If it hurt now, it’d hurt during games.
“Fuck off,” he muttered, but he didn’t stop. Not until he reached me again.
“Need a rest?” I asked, watching him strain as he rounded the final cone. His stride was a little labored now, but his focus never wavered. He executed a tight turn and stopped, bending over with his hands braced on his thighs, chest heaving.
He didn’t speak, just breathed hard, but I saw the fire in his eyes. He wasn’t giving up, not yet.
And neither was I.
“You’re a sadist,” he muttered.
“I’m also your coach, so watch it.” My tone was sharp, but there was something in his gaze that made it hard to stay composed.
His hazy blue eyes lifted to meet mine, a challenge flickering in them. “Right now, Frankie, you’re not acting like my coach.”
And he was right. If I’d been doing my job, I’d have stopped this by now. But I didn’t. I skated closer, my voice dropping a few shades. “Go again.”
He straightened, standing to his full height, and for a split second, I saw the raw intensity in his gaze, unfiltered and relentless. “Fuck you. Coach.” The last word slipped out like a dare, a challenge, an invitation. I watched his lips form it, saw his tongue flick out to wet them, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. All I could do was watch the way his mouth moved, the way his eyes never left mine. For a brief, dizzying moment, the world around me stopped being sharp and cold. The harshness, the loneliness—everything faded.
“Everything okay over there?” Sullivan’s voice cut through the haze like a splash of cold water.
I snapped out of it first, clearing my throat, forcing myself to look away. “Yeah.” I coughed, trying to sound casual. “We’re good.”
Sullivan didn’t look convinced, his gaze flickering from me to Teddy with a touch of concern. His voice was firm when he spoke. “Why don’t you hit the showers, Ted?”
Teddy gave him a look then turned to skate off without a word. As soon as he was gone, Sullivan’s expression softened, turning almost sympathetic. “Are you okay, Frank?”
I exhaled slowly, my skin tingling with the heat of the moment. “Yeah.” I managed, but it sounded like a lie.
“Do you want me to take over with Teddy?” Sullivan asked.
No. I didn’t need anyone else to step in. What I needed was for the world to stop feeling like it was closing in on me. My engagement had fallen apart, but that barely registered in my mind now. It wasn’t the reason I was here, tangled in this mess of heat and desire. Not. One. Bit.
“No, it’s all good.” I didn’t look at him as I skated away, my heart still pounding. I entered the locker room, unlacing my skates with mechanical precision. The showers were in the next room, but I could hear the rush of water, imagine the warm spray cascading over tanned skin, the steam filling the air. My pulse quickened at the thought, and I cursed myself for even going there.
