Page 137 of Embrace

With his breath on my cheek, I remember where we are. I pull back for a semblance of control. “Were you waiting for someone in here?”

“I was.”

“Oh,” I squeak, scrambling off his lap. But the light touch on my wrist stops me.

“I was waiting for you, Scarlett,” Kian says. “It’s always you.”

Suddenly, the jukebox outside starts, and “In My Life” by the Beatles surrounds us.

“You talked to my dad,” I finally say. “Since when?”

“Since I went over to your house the other day and told him what you meant to me. And that if he was angry, he could take it out on me.”

He talked to my dad.

“Your dad knows I love you, and I told him nothing’s going to change that. He wants you to be happy. Even if it’s with me. Ihopeit’s with me.”

The words feel so different coming from Kian. Knowing that my dad—in whatever Coach Kilner way—told him so himself. Kian gives my wrist the lightest tug, drawing me back to him. I go easily.

There’s a desperation for six-second hugs that sits heavy on my chest. I can’t handle it.

“Kian, everything I said to you after my exam— I was wrong. I was wrong about being okay without you. I was wrong for hiding the truth about my dad. I’m sorry that I made you feel like you weren’t a safe place for me to share that.”

He doesn’t speak. I hold my breath, hoping I can disappear into thin air. If he doesn’t start talking, I’ll start rambling.

“You were saying something earlier,” Kian finally says. “It’s all I could think about the entire game. I think I know, but I don’t want to guess; I want to hear it. From you.” His hand slides to my cheek. “What do you want, Scarlett?”

“You,” I say immediately. “I want you. As my best friend, my boyfriend, a hockey player— I want you in every form, and I know that’s selfish, and I understand if you’re hurt and you don’t want to give that to me anymore, but I need you to know that you’re wanted. So much it hurts to not have you with me.”

His eyes light up as if I’ve screwed in the missing bulb. But even then, he stays so still, my hands start to tremble at the thought of watching him walk away.

My chest almost caves in. “Do you—do you still want me?”

He lets out a derisive laugh. “I’ll show you what I want, baby. Come here.”

Kian’s hands trail over my blazing skin, maneuvering me to straddle him. He presses his face to my neck, inhaling me like a man trying to quench his thirst. The kisses he leaves there are borderline punishing, and I barely orient myself.

“Kian,” I whisper. “I—I—”

“I know, sweetheart.” He kisses along my jawline. “I missed you too.”

“W-wait.” I find every ounce of willpower to pull back, and his eyes widen. “I need you to know that I meant it when I said you deserve easy. You don’t need to prove anything to me.”

His thumb brushes my cheek. “I know, but I’d jump through any hoop to get to you, Scarlett.”

I kiss him then, holding him tight and pulling him closer as I press my weight into his lap. A beep sounds when my back hits the photo booth button. Kian must have put coins in it earlier.

The light flashes. I sink my hands into his hair, and he places his on my ass, groaning into my mouth. Kian bites my lip, and it’s like he’s lit a match. My hands go to his belt buckle, and he watches as if I’ll disappear. Another flash. Then he slows me down, pressing his forehead to mine, until I’m quivering. With the last flash, he nods, and I undo the buttons on his jeans, pulling him out of his boxers.

He’s warm and thick in my hand, and when his finger dips beneath my skirt, he smiles. “You missed me, huh?”

“So much.”

He lines himself up with my core, guiding me down until I sink onto him. “Say it.”

“I missed you. I need you. I want you,” I chant.

It’s like he’s caught in a spell, but then he looks down at me. “Whose jersey is that?”