I turn to him, and he mirrors my move. “Do you ever find it exhausting?” I begin. “The whole hockey career thing? Don’t you just want to wake up and play without any pressure?”
He seems to study me for a second. “Not often. I’ve wanted to go pro since I first touched the ice. Why do you ask?”
“There was someone who watched my dance showcase a few weeks ago, and they offered me a spot in their company in New York, even without an audition,” I admit.
Connor touches my shoulder gently, and it surprises me, but it’s welcomed. “That’s great… or isn’t it?”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to go, it’s not for me. Too much pressure, but I don’t want to let down my parents. I mean, I know they would support me no matter what, but it’s just a thought in my head, you know?”
“I do. My uncle and dad are a constant reminder of what I need to achieve, and they don’t even mean to be.” He sighs.
“I guess we have something in common then. Being good at something but struggling to fully breathe.” I can’t stop staring at him.
He twirls the end of my hair around his finger and attempts to focus his eyes on my hair, but they only flick up again.
This is my moment.
“Do you find me attractive?” I ask, and I’m not shy about it.
He scoffs a sound before biting his inner cheek, desperately trying to hide his entertained smirk. “Where is this coming from?”
“Answer me.” My tone is short.
He avoids looking at me and instead wraps my strand of hair tighter. “Hadley, you’re a beautiful girl. You don’t need me to tell you that.”
I smile to myself with satisfaction and confidence before I interlace our hands on the floor of the trunk, catching him off guard, but he doesn’t pull away. “I thought so. Do you want to kiss me?”
“I’m not answering that.” There is a hint of a grin on his mouth. “What is this about?”
“I’m no longer a kid,” I remind him.
“I’ve noticed.”
“Help me,” I rasp, barely a whisper.
His eyes linger on our joined hands. “With what?” he asks softly. Maybe I make him nervous or maybe his brain is already connecting the dots.
“Kiss me because I’m too scared to.” My bold declaration surprises even me.
Connor’s sight rockets back up to mine, and he tilts his head slightly to the side, the light highlighting his concerned face. “You don’t seem scared now.”
“Kiss me,” I repeat my request.
His eyes sideline, only to return to me with heat in his gaze. “Hadley, I’ve done a hell of a job avoiding you lately because the ideas in my head don’t make me a gentleman, and here you are throwing it all at me. I won’t be the guy to walk away noble, I’m too selfish.”
“And?” I’m not concerned.
He debates for a few seconds, clearly having an internal struggle. “I’ve tried to warn you. Fuck it,” he seems to curse to himself right before his lips slam onto mine.
His kiss is an explosion of my heart. A command that he leads. So damn firm and better than all of my dreams combined.
I’ve kissed guys before, but nothing like this. My whole body is alive, and his tongue swipes into my mouth with clear direction, causing me to melt. Then it only gets better when it turns fervent. We don’t pull away nor stop.
It escalates until we’re lying down in the back of his car. His hand finds my leg, and I feel it in my bones that we won’t stop. I pause for a second, and his head jolts back to attempt to read my face.
“Just go slow.” My eyes gently gawk at him to ensure he understands that I want more.
But his head gently tilts when a realization hits him. “You’re…”
