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"I need a shot of you. Payton asked me for one."
Parker's smile grows, his eyes sparkling. He's still shirtless, still sweaty, and still sexy. No, not just sexy. The man is a walking wet dream.
"Well, come on. I thought about how you don't do crowds and what I would do when you let me take you out. Come on, I've got the perfect thing," Parker says, offering me his hand.
His hand is how all of this started. I was fine last night until he touched me. Until our hands brushed, until our fingers wove together. That was all it took for me to forget everything but him.
It was the first time in my life I stopped overthinking everything, stopped thinking, and just was. I've never felt that before, and it was as terrifying as it was terrific.
"Alright," I flash him a smile. "But you're going to have to put your shirt on."
Parker blushes a bit, tugging his shirt back on. I don't really want him to, but the last thing I need is the distraction of his glistening pectorals or inky black tattoos.
"Alright, but you're going to have to take your shoes off," Parker shoots back as he takes my hand.
Those same sparks from last night race through me. His touch is electric, obliterating everything else in my mind. For once, the constant slideshow of images slows to a crawl.
"Oh no," I say adamantly. "I'm not getting on the ice with you, Parker. No. Nope. Never."
4
Parker
The ice is empty this late at night. It would typically have some maintenance happening, but Erik and I visited them earlier and had a little chat. It's amazing how receptive people are when you tell them you need something for a romantic date. The crisp Franklin slipped into his hand helped, too.
The ice is quiet with no crowd. It's haunting, the bright lights dim, the seats empty. Even the air is colder, the body heat of thousands no longer warming it.
"Wow. It's a lot nicer when there's no one here," Sofie observes.
"I figured you would like it more like this. Crowds aren't your thing, right?" I smile at her.
She smiles back, a rare treat. Her camera is hanging off its strap by her side as I help her tie the laces of her skates. Sofie doesn't skate, but I told her she needs to be on the ice to get the shots she wants.
Even if it doesn't work, this is just phase one.
"People aren't my thing," she corrects with a smile that could melt the ice. "They're loud and noisy. So many moving parts. My brain isn't a quiet place to begin with, but people make it worse."
I kneel down in front of her, taking one slender ankle in my hand.
"Even me?" I ask easily.
She bites her bottom lip as I tighten her laces. With me kneeling and her sitting, we're perfectly at eye level. Her eyes draw me in, and suddenly, I can't think, can't breathe. They're eyes that are constantly laughing at some clever joke that no one else knows.
I desperately want to know the punch line.
"No," she whispers. "You quiet my thoughts."
The moment is suddenly tense. I want nothing more than to lean forward and kiss her, but I don't want her to run off again. Especially in skates.
"Come on. Don't worry, I won't let you fall," I pull her hand as I stand, tugging her off the bench and out onto the ice with me.
Sofie flashes me another smile— and then Promptly slips.
Her forward momentum sends her crashing into me, but I'm ready. I wrap my arms around her, catching her and holding her steady. Her full figure molds itself to my body, her breasts pressing against my chest in a way that makes me want to burn our clothes and become nudists.
"Easy. There you go. Just follow my lead, alright?" I ask.
"Don't let go," Sofie's eyes flash with fear as I separate from her.
