Page 106 of Secrets on Ice

“Yeah,” he says, eyes on me. “I’ve been wanting to come here since we moved in.”

“Where else do you want to try?” I ask, and that sets him off on a long list of culinary establishments he wants to try before training camp, and before I know it, I’m agreeing.

The main courses arrive of homemade gnocchi for me, and osso buco for him. But underneath it all, there’s a current of something else. The way his foot brushes mine under the table. The way his eyes linger on my mouth when I take a bite. The way he listens when I talk, like I’m the only person in the room. By the time dessert arrives, tiramisu to share, I’m hyper-aware of every look, every small touch, every smile, and the red wine isn’t helping either as it lowers my inhibitions.

When Sully excuses himself to go to the bathroom, I quickly pull out my phone and text Cass.

Ember: What time are you coming home? We are about to leave the restaurant, and I know your brother is going to have questions.

Cassidy: Tell him I’m going out with Marlowe and I’m going to crash at her place.

Ember: Okay, got it. Have fun.

Cassidy: Debrief tomorrow.

Ember: Sure.

“The bill’s all settled. Are you ready to head back?” he says.

“We could have split it,” I tell him, as he helps me get up out of my chair.

“No, and I don’t want to hear some argument about independence or whatever Cassidy usually says. It’s my shout, end of,” he tells me as he places his hand on the small of my back and ushers me out the door.

The walk home is dangerous. The red wine has loosened everything, my self-control and the careful walls I’ve been trying to keep up. The city lights blur around us as we walk side by side, the cool night air doing nothing to cool the heat between us. Sully’s hand brushes mine every few steps, and neither of us pulls away. At one point he casually drapes his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer as we cross the street. I lean into him, my head resting against his shoulder for a second before I catch myself and straighten up.

“Sorry,” I mutter.

“Don’t be,” he says, voice low. His thumb strokes my shoulder, sending sparks down my spine.

We try to keep it casual, talking about nothing, but the tension is thick. Every accidental touch feels electric, and by the time we reach the apartment building, I’m buzzing with want.

27

EMBER

The second the door to our apartment closes behind us, we attack each other.

The wine has burned away every last inhibition. There’s no hesitation, just raw, desperate need.

Sully pushes me against the wall, kissing me hard, tongue fucking my mouth as his hands slide under my dress to grip my bare ass. I moan into his mouth, fingers threading into his hair, pulling him closer as I grind against the hard ridge of his cock through his pants.

“Fuck, Em,” he growls against my lips. “I’ve been hard for you all night. Watching you in that dress … you’ve been driving me crazy.”

He lifts me like I weigh nothing, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carries me to the kitchen island. He sets me on the edge, shoving my dress up around my hips, then stops.

“Shit …”

“What?” I still

“Is Cassidy home?” he whispers.

I shake my head. “She’s staying at Marlowe’s tonight. We have the place to ourselves.” I don’t need to say anything more before he has me spread out against the island like his own personal meal.

He pushes up the hem of my skirt. “No panties.” He groans, spreading my thighs wide. “Such a dirty girl for me.” He buries his face between my legs, licking me like a man starved, long, filthy strokes of his tongue from entrance to clit, sucking my clit into his mouth hard while two thick fingers slide inside me, curling against that spot. I cry out, fingers in his hair, hips grinding against his face as he fucks me with his tongue and fingers, groaning against my pussy like I’m the best thing he’s ever tasted.

“Fuck, you taste so good,” he growls, sucking harder. “Come on my tongue, let me feel you fall apart.”

I come hard, thighs shaking around his head, crying out his name as the orgasm crashes through me. He doesn’t stop, he keeps licking me through it, drawing out every last pulse until I’m trembling and whimpering, too sensitive.