“I felt like I was faking it.”
“You weren’t.” His hands settle on my waist, thumbs pressing through the denim against my hip bones. “Everyone loved you.”
“They did not.”
“They absolutely did.” He leans in and this kiss is different from the one inside. That one was for show. This one is just for us, deep and thorough. “I wanted to climb into the stands and drag you out of there.”
“That would’ve been a penalty.”
“Worth it.” His mouth drops to my neck and my knees go weak. I have to grab his shoulders to stay upright. “Do you know how hard I was? Watching you up there? Knowing you came to see me play?”
“You score for other people too.”
“Not like I score for you.” He pulls back just enough to look at me and there’s something in his eyes that makes it hard to breathe. “When I pointed at you and you smiled? I almost forgot how to skate.”
“That’s dangerous.”
He kisses me again, deeper, and I’m starting to think we might not make it out of this parking garage. “Get in the car.”
“You’re bossy tonight.”
“Scoring two goals for my girlfriend has that effect.”
The drive feels endless even though it’s only fifteen minutes. His hand stays on my thigh the entire time, thumb stroking back and forth in a pattern that’s both soothing and maddening. I put my hand over his and he flips his palm up, lacing our fingers together like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“You were good tonight,” I say, needing to fill the silence because the tension is so thick I can barely breathe. “That first goal?—”
“I’ve scored better goals.”
“Not according to the WAGs.”
“The only highlight I care about is the look on your face when I pointed at you.” He glances over, eyes dark. “You blushed.”
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did. Your whole face went red. It was adorable.”
We pull into his building’s garage and he parks, cutting the engine. Neither of us moves for a second, just sitting in the sudden silence.
“Come upstairs,” he says quietly.
“That was the plan.”
“I mean—” He runs his free hand through his hair and suddenly he looks uncertain. “I just want you to know that I’m not expecting anything. If you’re tired, we can just sleep. I just want you there.”
It’s the vulnerability that does it. The fact that he’s giving me an out even though I can see exactly how much he wants me.
“I’m not tired,” I say.
“No?”
“No.” I lean across the center console and kiss him. “Take me upstairs, Romeo.”
We make it as far as the elevator before his hands are on meagain, backing me against the wall, kissing me like he’s been holding back all night and can’t anymore.
We stumble down the hallway to his apartment. He’s kissing my neck while trying to unlock the door and it takes three tries before the key finds the lock.
The second we’re inside with the door shut behind us, everything changes.
